Your Personal Letterhead
(include any titles ie. Mr., Ms. Dr., etc)
October 4, 2003
Dear Principal Smith,
Each day during lunch, the other student has been humiliating my son at his lunch table by mimicking his stuttering problem. The other students at the table laugh which subsequently creates the more severe harassment issue of public humiliation. Joseph has informed a lunchroom aide of the harassment, however, this student does not engage in this behavior when adults are present. This student's harassing behavior toward my son meets the definition of "Harassment" or "Bullying" as outlined in New Jersey's anti-bullying law for schools:
"Harassment, intimidation or bullying" means any gesture or written, verbal or physical act that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory handicap, or by any other distinguishing characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function or on a school bus and that: a. a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of harming a student or damaging the student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to his person or damage to his property; or b. has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to cause substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school. (source: State of New Jersey)
I am requesting that your administrative team investigate this situation immediately to insure that it stops. Please be advised that under no circumstances is Joseph to be interviewed jointly with his tormentor. Research indicates this only serves to increase the imbalance of power in such situations and to increase the possibility of reprisal toward the victim.
I am giving my permission, however, for your staff to interview Joseph individually to gather the necessary information to intervene. Please do not inform the other boy that my son provided you with the information or that this letter was received to inform you of such. Research indicates a suggested method to protect against victim reprisal is to interview several other boys from the lunch table to verify the harassment. At this point a simple: "After observing your behavior and speaking to several witnesses we understand you have been humiliating a boy at your lunch table."
In closing I am sure that this situation will cease once the other student comes to understand that school staff is aware of his behavior and will be monitoring such. Regardless of school discipline, experts seem to agree that communicating a student's harassing/bullying behavior to his or her parents is critical to help prevent reoccurrence. Thank you in advance for taking the time necessary to address this matter to insure Joseph's right to a harassment and bullying free school environment.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Jones
