No Tattling on Bullies!

It has come to my attention that an unofficial "No Tattletale" policy is being implemented in my child's elementary school and possibly throughout the Attleboro school district.

One day, my child came home from school crying. When we asked what happened, she said another student had hit her at school. We asked if she let the teacher know and she said she had not. My child went on to tell us that if you tell on someone for hitting you and the other person denies it, both parties are punished.

My child has been hit several times by the same student and nothing has been done about it. This "No Tattletale" policy is not consistent with this district's policy on reporting bullying, which states the following:

Reporting

Students who believe they are a target of bullying, observe an act of bullying or who have reasonable grounds to believe that these behaviors are taking place are obligated to report incidents to a member of the school staff or administration. The target shall, however, not be subject to discipline for failing to report bullying.

The keywords are "obligated to report incidents to a member of the school staff or administration." Punishing children for doing what the rule says to do is not right. They claim they can do this "No Tattletale" policy under the Attleboro Public Schools' Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan. But nowhere is it written or implied that a child is to be disciplined for telling on another. This policy deters children from reporting violence toward them and places them at a higher risk for harm.

When we tried to bring this issue forward to resolve it, the school district administration made us meet in private in an attempt to keep this issue from the pubic. If this policy is permissible and follows all guidelines and laws, why is it not written down for all to see? And why have we had to talk about it only behind closed doors?

We are asking that all Attleboro residents and parents please contact the Attleboro School Committee members and demand that there be a public hearing on this matter. Without your help, our children will continue to be bullied and nothing will be done about it by the administration. Someone needs to answer why they have chosen to act against their own public policy privately. Without your calls and/or emails, that will never happen.

Demand answers. It's your right!

To discuss this further, post a message in the comments section below, send an email to GetAnswers@comcast.net  or go to badpolicygetanswers.forumotion.com.