5 Signs Your Child's School May Be Failing to Protect Them from Bullying
As a parent, one of the most important responsibilities is ensuring your child’s safety at school. Unfortunately, many schools fail to meet their legal obligations when it comes to protecting students from bullying. Adam T. Mandell, founder of LegalAlly.com, spent over 15 years representing school districts, gaining valuable insight into how schools handle bullying cases. Additionally, Adam has completed training through the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), one of the most comprehensive anti-bullying programs in the country. This unique experience provides him with a deep understanding of what schools are required to do to prevent bullying—and how often they fall short.
Here are five signs that your child’s school may not be fulfilling its responsibility to protect them from bullying.
1. The School Lacks a Clear Anti-Bullying Policy
Every school should have a well-defined anti-bullying policy. According to research published in the journal Prevention Science, schools with clear, consistently enforced anti-bullying policies report fewer incidents of bullying and a safer school climate overall. If your child’s school doesn’t have an established policy or if the policy isn’t being followed, that’s a serious concern. Schools are legally obligated to create and enforce such policies under state and federal laws, including DASA in New York. Failure to do so can leave students vulnerable to harm and undermine the safety of the entire school community.
2. The School Fails to Act After You Report Bullying
If your child has reported bullying and the school takes no action, this is a clear violation of their duty to provide a safe environment. Several research studies and academic books show that when schools fail to act on bullying reports, it not only perpetuates the harm caused to victims but also sends a message that bullying is acceptable behavior. Schools should conduct thorough investigations, notify parents, and take steps to stop the bullying from continuing. If these actions are not taken, the school is failing to meet its legal obligations.
3. Cyberbullying Is Ignored
As technology becomes more integrated into our children’s lives, cyberbullying has become one of the most pervasive forms of harassment. A study published in Current Pediatric Reports found that cyberbullying can have as serious, if not more severe, consequences than traditional bullying, often resulting in long-term psychological distress. “Victims of cyberbullying have higher rates of depression when compared to other forms of traditional bullying,” Harvard Medical School researchers and study co-authors Vidhya Lakshmi Kumar, M.D. and Mark A Goldstein, M.D. write.
If the school is not addressing online harassment, they are neglecting their responsibility to protect your child. Schools must not only respond to physical bullying but also take steps to monitor and prevent cyberbullying on social media, school websites, and other online platforms.
4. Repeat Bullies Are Not Addressed
One of the clearest signs that a school is failing to protect your child is the repeated targeting of your child by the same individuals without any meaningful consequences. Unsurprisingly, much research (such as this study) has shown that when schools fail to intervene with persistent bullies, it increases the likelihood of ongoing harm to victims. Effective anti-bullying programs and policies should include strategies for dealing with repeat offenders, providing intervention that addresses the root causes of the bullying behavior and ensuring the safety of all students. If the school allows repeat offenders to continue their harmful behavior, it indicates a failure to take action.
5. Your Child Expresses Fear or Anxiety About Attending School
Perhaps the most alarming sign that a school is failing to protect your child is when they express a deep fear of attending school. This can manifest as physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomach aches, or emotional distress like anxiety or depression. Dozens of studies (example) from the American Psychological Association) demonstrate that bullying is strongly associated with increased rates of school absenteeism and mental health issues among students. If your child is so afraid to go to school that it’s affecting their well-being, it’s a clear sign that the school is not providing a safe environment.
Why Legal Support Is Crucial
If these signs sound familiar, it may be time to take action. Schools have a legal obligation to protect students from bullying and harassment. Many, unfortunately, fail to meet these obligations, leaving families to fight for their child’s safety.
Adam T. Mandell knows firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate these issues. After spending years representing school districts, he decided to switch teams and advocate for the families and individuals affected by bullying. His experience gives him unique insight into how schools operate—and how they often fail to fulfill their responsibilities.
If your child has been bullied and the school hasn’t taken the necessary steps to protect them, don’t wait. Contact LegalAlly.com today to discuss your legal options. With Adam’s extensive background and knowledge of school district policies, he can help you take the necessary steps to protect your child and hold the school accountable.
References:
Ayers SL, Wagaman MA, Geiger JM, Bermudez-Parsai M, Hedberg EC. Examining school-based bullying interventions using multilevel discrete time hazard modeling. Prev Sci. 2012 Oct;13(5):539-50.
Committee on the Biological and Psychosocial Effects of Peer Victimization: Lessons for Bullying Prevention; Board on Children, Youth, and Families; Committee on Law and Justice; Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; Health and Medicine Division; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Rivara F, Le Menestrel S, editors. Preventing Bullying Through Science, Policy, and Practice. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2016 Sep 14. 5, Preventive Interventions.
Kumar VL, Goldstein MA. Cyberbullying and Adolescents. Curr Pediatr Rep. 2020 Sep;8(3):86-92.
Arseneault L. Annual Research Review: The persistent and pervasive impact of being bullied in childhood and adolescence: implications for policy and practice. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2018 Apr;59(4):405-421.
Schwartz, D., Gorman, A. H., Nakamoto, J., & Toblin, R. L. (2005). Victimization in the Peer Group and Children's Academic Functioning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 97(3), 425–435.