Dear editor,
In response to the article "Crestview parents protest school discipline procedure," the father was rightfully upset when his sixth-grade daughter was disciplined for defending her sister from a bullying boy.
She was punished for intervening and defending a weaker person, allegedly against school board policy, and this action ultimately left the father and daughter no recourse to appeal the punishment.
The school board's defense is that school officials are trained to deal with these situations.
Another case where government thinks they know better, but functional application is not possible? Perhaps. But what are we teaching our kids if they witness another peer being beaten up and, if they try to help, know they themselves will be punished?
In this case, the alleged assailant was suspended for two days; the defending girl for one day.
How does that help curb bullying?
How did it help this situation?
School just following “protocol”?
I get the threat of lawsuits, but a simple discussion right after this occurred between all involved could have sorted this all out. Instead, it is always easier to punish everyone and sweep it away.
I teach my children to never be a victim, stand up for yourself and to always defend those needing defending — regardless of what may come.
To punish a child for being a good Samaritan is teaching them the direct opposite of good citizenship.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER: Discipline policy undermines good citizenship