How would the policy apply to the East High "tradition" of shaving the heads of incoming freshman boys?

I think this is an awesome addition! And, yes, shaving heads is hazing. My nephew went to East and lived in constant fear of having his blond hair shaved by an older boy. It made him physically and mentally tense for months. He didn't want to go to school. He was a straight A student until that point. As a teacher/counselor I have to say that anything that can make a student so afraid to enter the school is morally reprehensible and should be ended at all costs. The boys who continue this "tradition" are bullies of the worst sort!

way ...now that part about gossiping is going to be interesting as the parents are going to have to tone it down too!

Hazzing is just for fun. We all went thru it, now it's our turn to dish it out. For the most part, the fresh class enjoys it, and know's that once you are initiated, you are a "part" of the new team of older students.

NBD

@Bunch of Nerds

I'd rather be a loner than go through that bull.

i did not experience hazing in high school because i did not put up with the juvinille behavior and the victimization mentality. i encourage my kids to do the same. do not accept it.

the reality is ANY action or threat of action that causes any damage mentally, physically, or emotionally is punishable by a massive lawsuit against the individuals involved, the teachers in the school, the school administration, the school counselors, the school district, the state board of education, the local school board, the govenor, and the teachers unions.

until each of these individuals are held responsible for failure to enforce the policy this thuggish behavior and this deplorable attitude of hazing and turning a blind eye will continue. if you read the policy everyone is immune from the enforcement mechanism if they were not aware of or did not wittness it. they can even ignore rumors and jokes of assault (hazing is assault) and not be responsible. when does it change? only when everyone is equally accountable.

any student involved by word, action, or planning should be kicked ut of school for 365 days. no mercy, no appeals, no compassion. that will end this horrid behavior quick.

Hazing shouldn't be put up with. Big ball players should leave the little ones alone, and all ball players should leave others alone.

There is no reason for this. The entire reason society pays for kids to play ball is to socialize them, to learn to play in teams and to cooperate and to strive for excellence.

If hazing is allowed, this is counter productive and ought not be allowed on the tax payers dime.

Even with the new guidelines, there will still be hazing. The strongest rules in the world won't make a difference if no one enforces them.

That's because there is a strong correlation between those who bully others and those who can run a 4.4 40 or hit the three-pointer or smack it out of the park. No principal or coach is going to suspend the star defensive lineman just because he happened to smack a skinny geek around in the name of "initiation".

If the choice comes down to preserving the dignity of a nerdy freshman or winning the state championship, most principals will take the trophy, every time.

Who will follow the good example being set by this State School Board? Keep the public informed.

Yet another thing being added to the stress of teaching/coaching.

When do teachers have time to teach? And what ever happened to good parenting?

Where is the high paid administration in all this? They have three or four per building and for the most part make six figures each.

Truth is most are just drawing a pay check.

Just throw it on the teachers/coaches and when there is no follow up blame the teachers.

That's the ticket!!!

The majority of bullying in schools does not occur from athletes, but from individuals whose self-esteem is low and they are projecting a tough man/woman image to hide their true self-esteem/self-image issues.

I have seen bullying/hazing in band, science clubs, drama teams, etc., as well as athletics. I hate the stereotypes I am reading hear, even from within the article itself.

Bullying and Hazing are related, but are different. Hazing is usually a "ritual" or "traditional" initiation for underclassmen. It should not be tolerated in any form. In extreme instances as reported over the years, some individuals take hazing to the point of sexual harrassment and/or assualt. Charges should be filed in these cases.

Bullying and hazing should not be ingnored no matter who is doing it. The new state policy is great, but it won't stop things from happening. Think about how adults treat each other in the work place and in life in general. Do adults haze each other? I'm not condoning anything here, just stating that kids mimick what they see.

RE: Former School administrator | 1:26 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Wow...excellent points but as usual you forgot to mention how many administrators bully and intimidate their very own teachers.

The D-News should do a story on that.