CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – In the wake of a viral video showing a boy who was bullied by his peers at school, the following resources can help parents and educators deal with bullying or harassment in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS).
According to CMCSS policy, acts of harassment, intimidation, bullying, and hazing by students, district personnel, and volunteers or other third parties in the school environment such as vendors/contractors are prohibited.
The policy says harassment, intimidation, and bullying means any conduct that is sufficiently serious to interfere with or limit a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by the school system.
POLL: Do you know of a child who has been bullied at school?
CMCSS says students are expected to report incidences of bullying-related acts to any administrator, teacher, school resource officer, counselor, or other school/district personnel.
Parents who know of any bullying are encouraged to communicate this to school personnel immediately.
“An individual may make an anonymous report; however, no formal disciplinary action may be taken against the accused solely on the basis of any anonymous report,” the policy says. “However, an investigation of an anonymous report will be conducted.”
Consequences for a student involved in bullying-related acts range from behavioral interventions to disciplinary actions.
District personnel and volunteers, who engage in bullying-related acts, are subject to disciplinary actions, up to and including termination of employment. In addition, hazing may be a crime prosecutable under the criminal laws of the State of Tennessee.
The entire bullying ans harassment policy can be viewed here. Go to page 16 of the report and click on the bullying and harassment link for more information.
Educators in the state of Tennessee can also view the state’s Bullying and Harassment guide as a resource.