Katie-

Sadly, the whole "Kids will be mean no matter what you do" philosphy is what lead to Columbine -- despite the conservatives who would like it blame it on Marilyn Manson. It's never ceased to amaze me what type of criminal behavior is tolerated in schools.

If someone went to work and had an officemate punch him, that offic mate would be charged with criminal assault and if the company failed to fire the attacker they would be liable in a civil suit. Yet if one student punches a smaller weeker student at school, the worst thing that is likely to happen to him is a few days of detention.

If an employee went to work every day and had numerous co-workers shout "fag" at him, his employer would most certainly fire the abusive employee. Yet if it happens in school, oh well, that's just kids.

If a woman went to work and all of her co-wrokers called her a "slut" loud enough for everyone to hear, would she put up with it? Then why should a student?

No adult would ever put up with the type of abuse that routinely happens in schools. Yet adults seem to think kids should just learn to deal with it.