Bloomberg Goes on Wedgie Patrol

The City has devised new anti-bullying tactics for the public schools, Mayor Bloomberg announced yesterday. The "Respect for All" initiative, in addition to telling students that bullying is wrong, mandates standards for tracking and dealing with bullies. Each school will assign a member of its staff as a bully monitor; students uncomfortable talking to the monitor can send their complaints to RespectForAll@schools.nyc.gov. Schools must establish anti-bullying regs and educate their students in them. They must also report all incidents of "harrassment, intimidation, or bullying" within 24 hours, "conduct full investigations, including interviews and written statements," and alert the bullies' parents. The Department of Education will collaborate with the schools to devise appropriate ways of dealing with both the bullies and the bullied. Next up: guidelines on tattletales.