The Editor,

Re: "Mom questions district's bullying policy," the Now, Oct. 16.

Doug Strachan's ideas for fighting back against bullying are completely ridiculous. "Curling up in a ball, running away or screaming for help" are not ways to fight back. They are defense mechanisms when there is no hope. It is humiliating to the victim and empowering to the bully to see their victim incapacitated and unwilling/ unable to fight back.

The law states that an adult can harm another person in self defence and not be criminally charged - why would the same not be true for a child? Fight or flight is a natural part of every human being. Although the zero-tolerance policy on violence is a great idea, I think school officials should be able to use their discretion in these matters.

Kelly Kaleta

The Editor,

Re: "Mom questions district's bullying policy," the Now, Oct. 16.

Premier Christy Clark addressed the province saying that everyone should stand up to bullying and bullies in light of Amanda Todd's death. This is also the view of many groups as well as teachers!

But when a six-year-old White Rock Elementary student was thrown to the ground by another student three years his senior, then picked up and thrown back to the ground , the six-year-old stood up to the bully, saying "Don't do that to me!" and kicked the boy.

For his actions, the six-year-old was punished and made to apologize for defending himself because of what the principal said was a blanket policy against violence. So in effect the six-year-old was again bullied by teaching staff for standing up against bullying, which the premier, many groups and even teachers are preaching about.

Doug Strachan, manager of communications for school district, says the policy is clear: violence in any form is not OK, no matter what the circumstances. He goes on to say he would like to see children defend themselves in others ways, such as curling up in a ball, running away or screaming for help. This is not always an option!

What policy are people to follow? Stand up to bullies or curl up in a ball and take a beating? I wonder what Mr. Strachan would do if he was in his office alone, with nowhere to run and no one around to help him when someone came into his office and began to push him around. Would he defend himself or just curl up in a ball and allow that person to stomp on his head, legs and ribs?

It is too bad that somewhere along the line these highly educated professionals forgot about common sense. They should be standing up for the meek and vulnerable. Punish the bully and let it be known to all that bullying will not be tolerated.

J. Edwards, Cloverdale