Synopsis: 2001 Miss. Laws, S.B. 2390 Directs the State Board of Education to develop a list of recommended conflict resolution and peer mediation programs that address responsible decision making, the causes and effects of school violence and harassment, cultural diversity, and nonviolent methods for resolving conflict, including peer mediation. Requires the board to make the list available to local school administrative units and school buildings by the beginning of the 2002-2003 school year.
It is the belief of many Bullying Experts that Conflict resolution and Peer Mediation is not appropriate for a Bully vs. Victim situations, especially after bullying has occurred. Clearly, the victim should not be blamed or put on a "hot-seat" when they have been victimized by a bully. This is like putting a rapist in with his victim. In most cases, to save themselves from further retaliation, the victim will say, "I'm sure I'm at fault somehow" or "It wasn't that serious." When an abused housewife is confronted in front of her husband about the abuse, many times she even feels the beating she received for having the dinner late was justified. It's the same with victims of bullying and Peer Mediation/Conflict Resolution. Those programs are questionable when it comes to bullying. This code/policy rarely mentions the word "bullying" and is not an anti bullying law, nevertheless, Mississippi get a C for having a well written Policy as well as a clear code to punish bullies who intimidate or use threats against other students.
MISSISSIPPI
2001 Miss. Laws, S.B. 2390
Education Chapter 371154Safe and Orderly Schools - http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/lead/osos/SchoolSafety.html#Mississippi_Institute_for_School_Safety_
School Safety Law and Policy Development (need PDF - Adobe Reader) - Check out page 21, Sec. 37-11-20 - Intimidation, threatening or coercion of students for purpose of interfering with attendance of classes. http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/lead/osos/SchoolSafetyManual.pdf
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