Bullying and School Districts

Bullying is a common problem that occurs in our nation’s school systems. Bullying can be defined as using physical strength and action or words to intimidate another and instill a sense of discomfort and fear. Bullying can be done in person, over the phone, or via the internet. There isn’t an age limit for bullying; it occurs throughout all stages of life, yet peaks when enrolled in an elementary or secondary educational institution. Over time, the question that has been posed is, “what can school districts do to prevent bullying?”

The United States Department of Health and Human Services created a website named “StopBullying.gov.” This website was designed for individuals, groups, businesses, and school districts, among others, to view and utilize for anti-bullying campaigns within the workplace, school grounds, and more. School districts, themselves, have created many different programs that teach its students the proper ways to respect one another and avoid confrontations.

School districts seem to be doing the best they can to avoid any sort of bullying. However, what happens if a bullying incident still happens on school grounds, even with the programs designed to prevent bullying? In many ways, parents and students around the nation are beginning to put the blame on the school districts for not stopping the behavior sooner. Unfortunately, it is difficult for a district to monitor every one of its students and take corrective action in every encounter. As mentioned, school districts are working to reduce the amount of bullying that occurs within their schools. Even with the growing number of anti-bullying programs that are instilled within our nation’s schools, incidents of bullying are far too common.

In the event that your district is caught in a litigation because of a bullying incident, it is best to contact a skilled school district insurance defense attorney to protect and defend your rights. The experienced attorneys at Montfort, Healy, McGuire & Salley LLP provide thorough and effective school district liability defense for school districts and educational institutions throughout Long Island, Westchester, and the five boroughs of New York City. To discuss options for school district liability defense, contact us at (800) 240-4082, or fill out our contact form here.