Is Your Louisiana School Breaking the Law?

September 30th 2019 | R. Jane | Speed Media

Bullying: Is it a problem at your child's school?

Louisiana State Law heavily guards victims of bullying against bullies, and schools, school boards, cities and even parishes who may have lax reactions to bullying.

If a school administrator tells you that their hands are tied regarding bullying, inform them:

"Not according to Revised Statute 17:416”.

How? School related bullying of any kind is covered by state law, and according to state law, all bullying allegations must yield a report that must be thoroughly investigated in a timely manner by the school. If the school fails to do so, the school and bully can be reported to the city, parish, or school governing authority. In the event that those authorities fail to do their jobs; the school, bully, and governing authority can be reported by an employee, parent or student to the Board of Education, which will do an audit for all reports made resulting in a complete and thorough investigation.

Schools are trained to recognize bullying. For any administrative authority to say that "there's nothing that the school can do" is false. All school employees who have regular contact with the students have a mandatory 2hr yearly training course covering bullying; how to recognize bully behavior, the students who are most likely to become victims, how to intervene, suicide prevention and mandatory reporting (documentation of and parental notification of incidents). New employees are required to take a 4hr course at the time of employment. These classes apply to janitors, bus drivers, and any employee who comes into contact with students.

Schools are required by law to use certain protocol in 1st, 2nd, 3rd offenses and beyond in all defined behaviors covered by Title 17:416.

Parents and students must received a signable document as proof of a personal copy regarding in-school consequences and criminal consequences of bullying, such as in-school suspension, expulsion, loss of State Drivers License, etc,.

Bullying is defined by all physical, verbal and electronic means intended to cause harm; Rumor spreading, social media harassment, making faces, group hazing, group shunning from school activities and damaging personal property.

The school must treat all students equally when applying the law no matter the reason or motivating animus of the bullying. This includes retaliation of reporters should their information be somehow known. However reporters shall remain anonymous by the school employees and governing officials according to state law.

Remember parents and students, it's the law. The School HAS to do something about it. Set your feelings aside and fight back, the smart way.

-R. Gamble

Sources:

Refer to State Legislation

La. R.S. 17:416.

La. R.S. 17:416.1

Added by Acts 1975, No. 559, §1;

Acts 1988, No. 898, §1;

Acts 2003, No. 732, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004.

La. R.S. 17:416.13

Acts 1999, No. 969, §1, eff. July 9, 1999;

Acts 2001, No. 230, §1, eff. June 1, 2001;

Acts 2010, No. 755, §1, eff. June 29, 2010;

Acts 2012, No. 861, §1, eff. June 14, 2012;

Acts 2013, No. 329, §1.

-R. George

Cheif Editor

Speed Trap Press

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Published 9.30.2019 1259 cst