Hatboro-Horsham OKs Anti-Bullying Policy

At what point does picking on a student peer become bullying?

The Hatboro-Horsham School District, through its recently adopted policy, have identified bullying and cyber bullying as acts that are "persistent or pervasive" and create a "substantial interference" with a child's education; a "threatening environment" or a "substantial disruption" of school.

Under the policy, which the board approved Monday night, students who are found to have bullied another student are subject to punishment ranging from counseling, loss of school privileges, transfer to another school building, expulsion, or referral to law enforcement officials. 

In instances of cyber bullying, district officials said previously that incidents occurring outside of school would continue to be handled case by case. Superintendent Curtis Griffin said earlier this month that instances of cyber bullying through social media networks - particularly among students - are reported weekly and oftentimes spill over to the school.