Saunders says parents should ask teachers to intervene when bullying occurs and to be open to hearing complaints from students. But with the advent of a time when kids look to guns as the solution to bullying, the stakes have been raised. Schools have adopted a variety of policies to curb violence among children, from peer mediation and metal detectors to parent patrols and zero tolerance policies. Shelby Oaks Elementary in Memphis relies on peer mediation and zero tolerance to teach the 740 students at the school to work out their differences. Students in grades 3-6 act as mediators for minor disputes.
Teachers intervene when necessary and handle any problems for the younger children.
It helps students develop that sense of judgment, to know what can be worked out among themselves and what needs to be taken to a teacher. After a fight, the number returns to zero. Some parents say this is humiliating. I want to bring it to bear on our children. Moore says the program is working.