Legal and ethical responses to school bullying through case study

Bullying: Legal and Ethical Application

Bullying is a common social evil that requires the intervention of all school stakeholders. This study shows that bullying students should not be reprimanded negatively because it may accelerate the bullying trait. This can be achieved if a manager develops social goals based on reconciliation. This report attempts to balance the legal and ethical responses in bullying. The report will use Johnny and Tommy case study on bullying to reflect on the management actions based on reconciliation and integrity. The balance between legal and ethical ramifications in responding to bullying incidences is addressed. The concepts learned will be important in handling cases similar to the case study presented.

A case study (Management situation in a first grade classroom)

Johnny is well built and slightly bigger than most of his peers in class. As a result, he has been using his muscular advantages to exercising bullying in class. Tommy on the other hand, is slender, shy, and not well built compared to Johnny. Recently, Johnny attacked and injured Tommy's arms using a pen. He also punched him badly. Tommy reported the incident to his mother who later came to school the next morning complaining of un-monitored bullying activities in school. Tommy's mother demanded financial compensation from the school administration with a threat of pressing legal charges against the school.

The school authorities have requested my intervention in determining the validity of Tommy's allegation. Secondly, I will seek to establish the reason for Johnny's negative behavior of injuring other students. I will also determine the way forward in compensating Tommy and his mother. It is important for the school has to accept responsibility of the situation. The first action is to clear the medical bills incurred in treating Tommy's arm. The school should also negotiate with Tommy's mother by explaining how the school is planning to eradicate the menace.

Justification of diplomatic actions

Absorbing Johnny, who has the unbecoming behavior, is the first instance of fighting bullying in this school. Actions are based entirely on peace and negotiation through consensus building. In any case, Johnny is just a reflection of other troubled children with autism whose cases have not been reported. The challenge arises when innocent students, Tommy, and his mother are to be convinced that Johnny should not be reprimanded negatively. The use of apology letters as suggested in this study is the first step towards reconciliation. In order to ensure Tommy and innocent students are satisfied, the report advocates that Johnny should read the letter loud in class or the assembly grounds. The administration should also take the initiative of duplicate the letter copies to be disbursed to various classes. This will communicate the message that bullying is discouraged whilst ensuring that problems facing the troubled Johnny are also addressed. The goal is to make sure that Johnny and other students understand the intensity of their negative actions.

Legal and ethical ramification presented in the case

The law requires schools within this district to abide to Bullying Prevention and Intervention plan. Besides, federal policies require lawmakers to develop laws and strategies to prevent and extinguish bullying in schools. The recent amendment of the policy (2013) sought clarity on the term perpetrator. Lavesque (2003) establishes that the perpetrator can be a sympathizer or the individual who bullies others. The amendment recognized primary and secondary perpetrators as school administrators, staff members, subordinate staff, or fellow students. Therefore, the decision to incline reprisal against Johnny shows this school as a possible candidate of bullying. However, it is important to understand that the school's central goal is developing positive morals among students. The school is an extensive correction center that seeks to instill positive morals to students like Johnny. The question of morality has greater significance compared to the implications of the law. In any case, the law aids shortages of morality.

Reflection: How to handle similar situations in the future

The school plans to open up suggestion boxes in various strategic points as a sign battling the bullying menace. Suggestion boxes will be avenues to report bullying incidences with a goal to minimize the circumstances that promote its occurrence. Drew (2010) encourages students to minimize the menace by reporting all cases at their infant stages. In fact, students should be aware that other schools have succeeded by using this approach. For the psychologically challenged students, the school plans to hire a full time counselor who will handle all instances related psychosocial bullying patterns in school. The counselor will also respond and contain autism cases in the school (Prior, 2004). The school must also develop social networks within the school society. These networks will allow students to understand the necessity of appreciating and protecting each other.

Conclusion

Cases of bullying are common in many American schools where the able-bodied student tend to mistreat the weaker ones. This report emphasizes on the need of using diplomacy to manage bullying in the school. The case of Johnny and Tommy presents a perfect example on how bullying should be handled. It is evident that students who perpetrate bulling may be troubled and require moral or psychological intervention.