Worksheet4:
Evaluating existing public policies
Date:
Your problem (phrase):
|
Bullying
in P.S. 186. |
State one of the major existing policies that attempts to deal with the social problem:
|
P.S.
186 does not have a clear policy regarding bullying. There are policies against fighting that
have various punishments depending upon the seriousness of situation and
whether it is a first or repeat offense that range from detention to
suspension. |
What are the advantages of this policy (consider effectiveness, costs, enforcement, public acceptance):
|
Students know that fighting is
not allowed and that repeat offenses or fights involving serious injuries can
result in suspension from school. |
What are the disadvantages of this policy (consider the effectiveness, costs, enforcement, public acceptance):
|
The
policy does not include or define the term “bully” or “bullying behaviors.” The
victim of a bullying attack is often punished the same as the bullying
student. There
are no policies in place to prevent bullying attacks. |
Based on your evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages, should the current policy be totally replaced, strengthened, or improved? What advantages, if any, from the current policy should be retained? What disadvantages, if any, should be eliminated?:
|
The
policy against fighting may be retained but there needs to be a new policy
that defines bullying contains appropriate punishments and provides a clear
message that bullying will not be tolerated at P.S. 186. |