NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Metro School leaders have approved a new push to crack down on bullying - both in, and outside of the classroom.
The changes became official Tuesday night at the board meeting, and have been months in the making. Bullying continues to be a major problem so a focus group developed a new policy plan.
Bullying is nothing new, but what Metro School Board leaders are doing about it is. The new policy includes clear definitions for bullying and harassment. Parents can also now report cyber-bullying to Metro School leaders, but they'll have to provide proof.
If any Metro School employee hears about a student getting bullied - the new policy requires them to report it. There's also a new provision that guards against retaliation. There are now harsher penalties for the bully themselves, if they are caught retaliating against their victim.
There's debate if a new policy can actually work.
"Kids really don't listen to the adults a lot," said Chase Scribner, an Metro Schools student.
Chase said he will continue to do what his Mom taught him the next time his buddy Brandon is verbally attacked.
"If they do that I will say that's not right, and we will just walk away." Brandon also adds, " It makes me feel bad and down inside, because it's wrong to make fun of people because of their weight. God made them how they want to be."
Metro school leaders tell News Channel 5 they take a close look at every policy, every year to see if they need to be improved. Because there's been such an issue nationally with students taking their own lives because of bullying Metro decided to take a closer look at the problem.
