Zero Tolerance

Our district has a Zero Tolerance policy when it comes to bullying. This is our school's big effort at our Bully Buster program.

1st Offense: Teacher discusses with the victim and aggressor. The situation is documented.

2nd Offense: The teacher discusses with the victim and aggressor and the aggressor is referred to the Counselor.

3rd Offense: The teacher discusses with the victim and aggressor. The Bully Buster Committee meets with the aggressor, his/her parents, teacher, counselor and administrators.

4th Offense: The teacher discusses with the victim and aggressor. The aggressor receives an office referral.

5th+ Offense: Possible In-School Suspension for verbal/relational aggression and Off-School Suspension for physical aggression.

Does this sound like Zero Tolerance to you? Or would you call this program a "Bully Buster Program"? It sounds more like a "Bully Enabler Program" to me. I can just imagine the Bully Buster Committee coming up with this program "Let's not have any real consequences until 5+ offenses, alright? And then, let's call our policy Zero Tolerance. The parents of bully victims will find those words "Zero Tolerance" reassuring. They won't realize that we don't actually ever label anyone a bully and that we don't do anything about their child getting bullied until it happens five or more times."And who is on the mysterious Bully Buster Committee (see 3rd Offense) that meets with all these other people? I have so many questions!