Disturbing images

Disturbing images

Columbus Dispatch: Among the most disturbing aspects of the recent Chillicothe classroom beating of one student by another, captured on another student’s cell-phone video, is that no one appeared to try to help the victim as he was repeatedly punched and thrown to the floor.

High school has been known to be a tough place, but is a sense of moral duty, not to mention compassion, in such short supply that no one felt compelled to seek help?

Ohio school districts are required to have policies banning bullying. At Unioto High School where this assault occurred, more effort is needed to impress upon students that they have a duty to tell a responsible adult when they see bullying, whether it’s a physical attack, verbal intimidation or any of the myriad ways a troubled youth can torment a classmate.

Just as bullying should not be tolerated, neither should a school culture in which students think it acceptable to stand by while one classmate is hurt by another.