Anonymous wrote:If it's bullying, ask if the school practices "restorative justice". If it does, the school may expose your child to the bully so make it clear you're seeking protection and will not authorize your child exposed to the bully. If it is a serious matter and your child has an injury as evidence, file a police report. I say this because victim-blaming is not uncommon, especially if you feel the school is trying to bury the matter. If the situation is getting out of hand, NEVER file a CFP (which MCPS will encourage you to do). Go straight to a lawyer for advice. Don't be afraid to consider court or file with the Maryland Inspector General.

Don’t listen to this stupid MAGA parent. She has no clue about the benefits of restorative justice.

Agree with above post that nominal "restorative justice" is nothing like restorative justice as it's supposed to be practiced within communities.

These nominal practices can cause harm.

PhD psychologist here who worked in community setting with days-long restorative justice practices. Community leaders there were mentored, over time, by First Nations groups

What age and was there a serious injury? It matters.

For serious harm, call police and file a report.
Do not rely on MCPS to provide just consequences.

School systems (not just MCPS) are by nature secretive and this ends up protecting perpetrators, not victims. In 2018 there was a group rape in the locker room of Seneca Valley HS and the Principal tried to sweep it under the rug, interviewed the kids involved before the police investigation (which is against policy) and tampered with the evidence (also prohibited). Such incidents happen more often than you think. You just don't hear about them.

If this is for more run-of-the-mill bullying, you file a bullying form at school. If the offender is a repeat offender in that vein, you can call police to put pressure on the family to accept a transfer or placement into a specialized program (if special needs are involved, as they often are - no offense intended, my oldest has special needs and is non-violent). Often violent kids have neglectful families who resist talking to, or are not present to talk to administrators when they suggest actions plans or placement options. The last resort is expulsion, which is rarely used, because public schools have a duty of care to all resident minors.

Anonymous wrote:Occasional reminder that MCPS / liberal white women "Restorative Justice" is a cruel mockery of actual restorative justice.

+1000. They should let the RJ specialist or a social worker be the only ones to use RJ. Because many are NOT doing it right.

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of misinformation on this thread.

I'm not saying that you should contact police but if you child was truly assaulted yes, the police will charge the child for assault. If you actually think your child was assaulted, you should report to the school and if they don't report it to police you should.

But a fight is not assault. You could talk to the SRO, explain the situation and figure out if it was actually assault. If it was the SRO can either write the rport or they will ask you to go to the police department to write the charging document.

If the child is under 13 they will not be charged with a crime.

An attack is not a fight and it meets the definition of assault. Filing the report is the first step in documenting a pattern. If it gets worse, that means that the school no longer has deniability

Define attack.

There is a lot of misinformation on this thread.

I'm not saying that you should contact police but if you child was truly assaulted yes, the police will charge the child for assault. If you actually think your child was assaulted, you should report to the school and if they don't report it to police you should.

But a fight is not assault. You could talk to the SRO, explain the situation and figure out if it was actually assault. If it was the SRO can either write the rport or they will ask you to go to the police department to write the charging document.

If the child is under 13 they will not be charged with a crime.

Also don’t forget that for kids under 13, police can’t do anything.

Anonymous wrote:I think they all practice restorative justice since suspensions are no longer en vogue.

The Parkland shooter participated in restorative justice for years. I lost a good teacher friend the day of the shootings due to the ineffectiveness of restorative justice.

lol, no the shooter did not participate in restorative justice but now we know you read right-wing propaganda and believe lies.

Anonymous wrote:Sue the crap out of the parents of the other kid

Maryland limits parental liability to $1000 in many cases. Going beyond that would be rather challenging if the assault took place at school, outside the expected supervision of the parents.

Sue the crap out of the parents of the other kid

I think they all practice restorative justice since suspensions are no longer en vogue.

The Parkland shooter participated in restorative justice for years. I lost a good teacher friend the day of the shootings due to the ineffectiveness of restorative justice.

Anonymous wrote:If it's bullying, ask if the school practices "restorative justice". If it does, the school may expose your child to the bully so make it clear you're seeking protection and will not authorize your child exposed to the bully. If it is a serious matter and your child has an injury as evidence, file a police report. I say this because victim-blaming is not uncommon, especially if you feel the school is trying to bury the matter. If the situation is getting out of hand, NEVER file a CFP (which MCPS will encourage you to do). Go straight to a lawyer for advice. Don't be afraid to consider court or file with the Maryland Inspector General.

Agree with this advice.

Occasional reminder that MCPS / liberal white women "Restorative Justice" is a cruel mockery of actual restorative justice.