Bullying continues to be a distasteful reality in Hawai'i public schools, and a Board of Education committee is looking at educating students about harassment, beefing up character education and creating programs to address and prevent school violence.

At least one board member called for stronger penalties.

"We've got to have consequences, otherwise it's going to go on for another 50 years," Mary Cochran said during an emotional committee meeting yesterday in which a teachers' union field representative said some schools cover up bullying to keep their records clean.

Department of Education ombudsman Beth McKeen said the board might want to consider suspensions longer than 10 days for students who have harmed others. She indicated a case in which a student had seriously harmed another, and the victim was afraid to return to school because the bully was back from suspension.

"There seems to be a disincentive to label the offense something longer than a 10-day suspension," McKeen said. "Maybe because the parents can appeal, and it's a black mark against the principal when it comes to evaluation."

The committee also recommends a more refined definition of bullying so students know what behavior is unacceptable. That includes educating students that inappropriately grabbing another student is not a matter of teasing but is against the law.

"Education on sexual harassment should be something everyone has every semester," said board member Maggie Cox, a former Kaua'i principal.

Mental health professional Sid Rosen with Adult Friends for Youth said law enforcement measures should be the last resort for problem students who, instead, need counseling.

"It's a matter of helping them learn how to behave better and that they have the capacity to change their lives," Rosen said.

Kalaheo High School Student Body President Lindsey Naka-shima told the committee that a program called "Challenge Day" is working at her school to ease tensions and bullying between students from different groups, including those from the nearby Marine Corps base, Kailua and Waimanalo. "Within the past years there's been more unity. People stand up for each other more," Nakashima said.

Sam Moore, a Hawai'i State Teachers Association field representative, said the DOE appears to be more worried about "paper compliance" under No Child Left Behind than offering strong support to teachers. He said he has heard students verbally abuse teachers with no consequences to the student.

HSTA President Roger Taka-bayashi agreed. "So many times, as a teacher, things were not implemented because they (administrators) didn't want a black mark (at the school)," he said.

Deputy schools superintendent Clayton Fujie strongly disagreed, saying that schools are not shunning their duties. Fujie said, in fact, that he has been a negotiator in many cases.

"As the hearings officer, when we find things aren't correct, we do additional training for the staff," said Fujie.

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.