Bullying is a problem in every school district, but in Framingham Public Schools (FPS), the issue isn’t just the bullies—it’s the lack of consequences. While the district has policies that technically exist, their enforcement seems about as effective as a wet paper towel trying to stop a hurricane.
FPS Anti-Bullying Policies: A Masterpiece in Theory
FPS proudly showcases its anti-bullying policies, which read like a heartfelt Hallmark card about kindness and respect. According to the district, bullying is “strictly prohibited” and “may result in disciplinary actions.” That’s cute. It’s like saying robbing a bank “may result” in getting arrested—but only if the cops feel like it that day.
The district’s official stance is that bullying is defined as anything that causes physical or emotional harm, disrupts learning, or creates a hostile environment. Great definition! Now, if only students believed that anyone would actually do something when they reported it.
In November 2024, FPS even updated its Bullying Intervention and Prevention Plan, which is essentially the bureaucratic equivalent of putting a “No Bullying” sign on a burning building and calling it fire prevention.
Disciplinary Actions: A Stern Finger-Wagging (Maybe)
Let’s talk numbers. During the 2023-2024 academic year, FPS had 362 disciplinary cases related to bullying. Sounds serious, right? Well, only 7.3% resulted in even an in-school suspension, and exactly zero students were expelled or suspended out-of-school. That means if you bully someone at FPS, the worst thing that might happen to you is a strongly worded chat and maybe—just maybe—a brief timeout in the principal’s office. It’s almost as if FPS is trying to breed the next generation of white-collar criminals who know they can get away with anything.
Parents have expressed concerns, but FPS officials assure them that they take bullying “very seriously.” You know, the same way a lazy college student “takes studying very seriously” but still crams an entire semester’s worth of material the night before the exam.
The Community’s Growing Frustration
Understandably, parents and students are starting to lose patience. While FPS might argue that they’re following “protocol,” many victims feel like they’re just shouting into the void. Students have reported incidents, only to watch the school investigate at the speed of a sloth on tranquilizers, ultimately concluding that “appropriate action was taken.” Appropriate for whom? The bully? Because they seem to be getting off easier than a first-time offender in a celebrity court case.
Conclusion: Time for FPS to Get Serious
Bullying isn’t going anywhere, but FPS has a choice—either enforce real consequences or continue pretending that writing another anti-bullying pamphlet is going to stop a kid from getting shoved into a locker. Until then, the message seems clear: If you’re a student in FPS, it’s not about who’s right or wrong—it’s about who can get away with it.
TELL US
If you managed to escape the Framingham Public School system with your sanity (or what’s left of it), we want the dirt. Tell us your juiciest tales of bullying—whether you were the punching bag, the tormentor, or just an unlucky bystander. Spill the tea on consequences (or the glaring absence of them), and if you have any brilliant ideas on how things could’ve been less of a dumpster fire, we’re all ears.
Drop your story in our anonymous tipline—no need to sign your name in blood. Just be sure to include the school, any teachers who were actually useful (or the ones who made it worse), and the approximate years you survived or attended.
IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION TO SHARE
PLEASE CONTACT US AT:
FraminghamUnfiltered@gmail.com
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THROUGH FACEBOOK MESSENGER
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ANONYMOUSLY