A decade ago, Vermont lawmakers created a group to address bullying in schools.
The Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Prevention Advisory Council consisted of state education officials, school administration and staff from the Vermont Human Rights Commission. It was intended to “review and coordinate school and statewide activities relating to the prevention of and response to harassment, hazing and bullying,” according to state law.
But for much of the past year, the council’s meetings have been spent wrangling over a set of existential questions: Is the group actually doing any good? And if not, should it continue to exist?
