COLCHESTER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont’s Secretary of the Agency of Education is updating the statewide policy on the prevention of Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying of students, or HHB.
The new draft model is under review. It’s much more detailed than the latest 2016 model. In fact, it’s 21 pages longer. It includes specific timelines, deadlines, and requires case reviewers independent from the school. But Kids who have been bullied say the policy doesn’t go far enough.
“Last year I had a Spanish class where it was literally impossible to learn,” said Colchester High School freshman Alice Langbauer.
Langbauer says she just wanted to study at her desk, but students in her class would throw things at her and hurl insults.
“I was teaching myself the material because I wasn’t gaining anything from the class,” said Langbauer.
She reported the bullying, but says nothing changed, even though Colchester High School admin said they were investigating.
The lack of transparency is why Langbauer and a group of parents and students are asking for schools to implement a restorative justice process where victims can be involved in the reparative process of HHB.
“HHB process, as you’re seeing, is protected by student privacy laws, but you can also have a parallel process, like Alice was saying, where all of this official paperwork happens behind the door, but we’re also going to have a conversation,” said Alyssa Chen, advocate from the Education Justice Coalition.
Their other wants include staff prevention training and mandatory intervention—both of which are already included in the new draft policy—youth training where students learn how to prevent bullying, whistleblower protection, and better transparency and communication.
“When people get hurt, they need repair, and repair is not available in the current legalistic frame. Restorative Justice creates an avenue for relational repair,’ said Courage V. Pearson with Outright Vermont.
Langbauer says investigation and punishment aren’t enough. She wants to sit down with her peers, explain her pain, and hear what her bullies have to say.
“If I heard from the person who said something to me and gave me a genuine apology, and we’re able to have a conversation in a safe space, that would contribute to the healing process a lot,” said Langbauer.
The last day to comment on the state’s draft model policy is December 31st.
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