State Gets Tougher on Bullys - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif- Bullying is a universal problem and the state is making sure schools get tougher on the teasers. San Luis Coastal District has just implemented its new policies.

Cyber bullying, its something that is becoming more prevalent in schools, but its hard to punish students when they're off campus. "We have responsibility on what happens during the school day, often the things that go on in the cyber world are outside of the school but affect the school," said Rick Robinett, Assistant Superintended of San Luis Coast School District.  

I asked Robinett about a facebook scenario, for example: If dozens of students were calling another student names publicly on the web page what could the school do? "That's when we would have, I think a duty to be involved because it is affecting a child," said Robinett.  

The district added bullying into their education code allowing them to suspend or expel a student for it. They also added more training for teachers and curriculums for students to better understand what bullying looks like. Teachers also have more responsibility. "If they see something, they will intervene, as apposed to just the old fashioned boys will be boys or I'll look the other way." The lessons on bullying and cyber bulling will start with the kindergarten level all of the way up to high school.