Children deserve a safe environment in which to learn, whether they live in Lawrence Park, Toronto or here in Virginia Beach. Virginia. According to the Virginia Beach public schools handbook, bullying is defined as "negative behaviors intended to frighten or cause harm, which may include, but are not limited to verbal or written threats, or physical harm." Virginia Beach schools, just like any schools all over the world, have had their problems with bullying. Here are some measures being taken to deal with it as well as some tips on how to cope if it affects your family.
The Virginia Beach school board's official policy on bullying is that it will not be tolerated. Students who are being bullied, either because they're the new kid who just moved in from Pickering real estate or because of something else, are instructed to report the bullying to the principal or the assistant principal of the school. Punishments for bullying in Virginia Beach schools include suspensions and in extreme cases, expulsion. The state of Virginia also has laws in place that allow for prosecution of cyberbullying and bullying that escalates to threats or assault.
However, the reality for many kids who are being bullied is that these measures aren't enough to stop the abuse, or would worsen the abuse if the abuser found out. So some children being treated for bipolar disorder in Hamilton will just take the abuse and never say anything until they end up doing something self destructive. That's why the school board has recently held a workshop on school bullying and started pushing for more bullying education programs.
Though nothing is in place yet in Virginia Beach, there are places that bullied kids can turn to for help, so you don't have to look at buying real estate in East York and moving there just yet. Local news program 10 On Your Side has exposed several cases of bullying in schools and websites like www.bullying.org offer education and resources for kids who are being bullied, parents of kids who are being bullied, and parents of kids who are doing the bullying. They offer web seminars and the chance for troubled kids to let their voices be heard.
The most important thing to remember for kids is that they shouldn't keep their suffering to themselves. They need to tell someone they trust to help them solve the problem. For parents it's that you need to put your kid first, even if it means moving into St George, Ontario homes to escape from the problem. And for educators, it means actually taking action when you see or hear of a child being bullied. Currently Virginia Beach has a bad reputation for bullying, but with everyone working together that can change.
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