BY ROB MANNING

Portland, OR  October 28, 2009

Most of the Oregon schools on last year’s safety watch list have come off of it - including one that had been on the list for four years. Rob Manning reports.

The federal No Child Left Behind law judges school safety by whether schools expel more than a certain number of students for things like fighting, or carrying weapons to school.

Schools are first put on a watch list.  After three years or more on that list, they’re labeled “persistently dangerous” and have to allow students to transfer out.

McKay High School in Salem was on the list for four years. But it reduced its expulsions and came off the list this year.

SchoolTipline applauds principals in Oregon that are making a difference in the way they handle violence and

bullying incidents. SchoolTipline prevents these incidents by promoting a safe environment in schools. Keeping schools safe is a difficult

task and SchoolTipline has already made a difference in schools all across the country.

Jeremy Jarvis, left, and his brother Denver are among five teenagers charged in the attack.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

TBO.com

The mother of a South Florida teenager who authorities say was set on fire by five classmates made an emotional plea this morning.

“This violence has to stop,” Valerie Brewer said on NBC’s “Today” show this morning. “Kids in schools are stabbing each other. What they did to my son, we have to stop this. Our children are our future.”

Michael Brewer was attacked at a Deerfield Beach apartment complex Monday afternoon. Authorities say five teenagers called him a snitch, then poured rubbing alcohol on the 15-year-old and set him on fire.

Brewer’s troubles started when 15-year-old Matthew Bent gave him a video game and expected him to pay $40 for it, Broward County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jim Leljedal. Brewer never paid for the game, so Bent tried to steal a $500 custom bike that belonged to Brewer’s father, Leljedal said.

Brewer called authorities over the weekend and Bent was arrested, then released Monday. Valerie Brewer said her son was terrified to go to his middle school Monday.

“I called the school resource office, and we set up an appointment for the next morning to talk to her about getting a plan to keep him safe, and it was too late,” Brewer said, her voice choking.

Michael Brewer told deputies that while he was sitting by the apartment’s swimming pool, he was splashed with rubbing alcohol and set ablaze.

click here to view full article

Crimes among teens are becoming more violent. This bizarre incident could have been prevented. It is a shame that the life of a teenager was jeopardized due to an insignificant issue among classmates that could have easily been resolved.

Michael Brewer’s mother made an emotional plea to stop violence among teens. It is crucial to provide children and teens with the necessary tools to successfully resolve problems of bullying and violence. Brewer did the right thing by reporting the incidents that lead to the attacks.

Many students fear peer retaliation and consequently refuse to report things they know.SchoolTipline is working hard to engage students in their program. It is important to create a safe environment in schools in order to prevent violent incidents such as this one.

Kaleb Eulls, star football player and hero

This story from WTHR.com:

“More than 20 students are safe today thanks to the quick work of a star football player. Kaleb Eulls saved the day when police say a 14-year-old pulled out a loaded gun on the bus.

Grainy video from the school bus camera shows the terrifying moments. The girl yells as she swings the gun. The other students are terrified screams.

It happened Monday morning in Yazoo County, Mississippi. The bus was filled with students of all ages. Police say one of them, a 14-year-old girl who was tired of being picked on, pulled out a .38 caliber gun.

In the midst of the panic, another student, star quarterback and defensive end Kaleb Eulls, did what he does best.

“He tackled her and saved no telling how many lives as a result,” said the sheriff.

The senior may be well known in the area on the football field, but today he is better known as a hero.”

(For entire article click here.)

SchoolTipline applauds the bravery of Kaleb Eulls. The action that Eulls took saved the lives of those on the bus.

The girl who carried the weapon is now in jail and may be tried as an adult. This incident cannot be taken lightly. Bullying is a serious issue and had it not taken place in this girl’s life this event may have been avoided. It is important that there is an open culture of communication between faculty and students so that cases like this can be prevent.

No longer. For the first time, the American Academy of Pediatrics is weighing in on the subject in its official policy on the pediatrician’s role in preventing youth violence. The journal Pediatrics calls upon schools to implement comprehensive anti-bullying programs. The feds, too, have played a role, raising awareness with a campaign called Take a Stand, Lend a Hand: Stop Bullying Now.

In 1998, researchers at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development found that 30 percent of nearly 16,000 6th- to 10th-graders has either bullied other kids or been bullied. ”

(Click here For Full Article)

Teacher, Kennet Santana, who restrained the youth attacking Hillsdale High School.

“The 17-year-old held in the pipe bomb attack on a San Mateo high school was a “techno-wizard” who told his family he was building model rockets as he assembled his explosive devices from material he bought over the Internet, authorities said Tuesday.

“With a master’s degree in school administration, Cole Kelley could have gone almost anywhere. The trouble is he didn’t want to.

After teaching two years at American Fork High School, he knew that was where he wanted to stay. He is fulfilling many of the duties of an assistant principal, without the title. He is a TAA, Teacher on Administrative Assignment………..

His roles include working with the sophomore class and English as a second language students and supervising some extracurricular activities, fundraising, Keys to Success, student discipline, technology, text books, school safety and the new School Tipline.

With that tipline program, students, parents and others may anonymously report problems or concerns they have related to the school. The company Web site shows an example of a text message about a drug deal in a school parking lot. In addition to anonymity, it is designed for quick response. Kelley said he had high hopes for the service.”

(Click here for the full article)

• Walking to and from school: map out the route your child will take and know who lives along it. While you don’t have to know every house owner, it is important you research for any possible sexual predators that may live in the area. Also advise your children to stay on the preselected path and avoid any parks, alleys, fields, etc., where there aren’t a lot of people around. Find out beforehand if there will be crossing guards at the intersections, and arrange for neighborhood children to walk together. Ensure your child knows their address and phone number.
• Riding a bike or scooter: make sure they know and obey the traffic laws and wear proper safety equipment. Bike helmets, sturdy shoes and a backpack that isn’t overloaded will all help make the trip easier and safer for your little one.
• If you plan on driving your child to school, make sure you see them enter the school yard or building before you leave.
• If your child will be taking the bus, instruct them to arrive at the stop early, stay out of the street while waiting and always keep themselves visible to the bus driver.
• Dealing with bullies: teach your child to stand tall, remain calm and walk away from difficult confrontations; if you suspect your child is being bullied, visit the school immediately and explain the situation to the principal.
• Playground safety: check out the equipment your child will be playing on and report any potential hazards. Remove the drawstrings from around the neck of clothing; any drawstrings at the waist or bottom of a garment should be trimmed to no more than three inches long.
• “Latchkey” kids need strict rules in place while they’re home alone: set a check-in time for them to call and let you know they made it home, and make sure they understand to keep the doors locked once they’re inside. Additionally, you and your children should make plans beforehand for what they need to do in emergency situations, such as fires, accidents, earthquakes, etc.

(For the rest of the article click here.)

In regards to bullying, SchoolTipline encourages students and parents to contact school administrators before the problem becomes too large.

SchoolTipline encourages families to be sure they are prepared for the new school year in every way possible. The tips above will help to increase safety for students and help the new school year begin smoothly.

“Evidence demonstrating the long-term effects of bullying combined with high-profile incidents of school violence have led to greater support for anti-bullying initiatives. More than three-quarters of elementary and middle schools participated in anti-bullying programs in 2006, according to the National School Boards Association.
Anti-bullying efforts have focused primarily on prevention through character education programs. Rona C. Kaufman said she began infusing character education into Hannah Penn Middle School in York, Pa., soon after becoming principal in 2003.

The in-school suspension room was converted into a character education room, in which a teacher and students work together to improve attitudes. This often focuses on discussing and analyzing neighborhood problems. All students received lessons in ethical decision making and proper manners.

A curriculum focused on social and emotional development also boosts students’ academic success, Poland said.

Many speakers emphasized the need to put students at the forefront of any anti-bullying campaign. Students generally know who the bullies are and where the bullying occurs, Poland said.

Jacquelyn Andrews, 16, a junior at the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, N.J., developed a 180-hour anti-bullying program for grades three to eight that includes activities such as drawing and writing picture books about how to form alliances against bullies. Andrews is the daughter of Rep. Robert E. Andrews, D-N.J.

And Cassady Tetsworth, 17, a senior at Northwest Guilford High School in Greensboro, N.C., and is a youth advisory board member for Students Against Violence Everywhere, said her chapter role-plays bullying situations so students know how to respond when somebody else is being bullied.

Kaufman’s efforts at character education have had a dramatic impact. Discipline referrals at Hannah Penn fell nearly two-thirds during the 2007-2008 school year, vandalism had virtually disappeared and there were fewer reports of bullying.”

(Click here for complete story.)

SchoolTipline applauds these students and schools for taking the initiative and creating anti-bullying programs.

SchoolTipline agrees that it is the involvement of students that will make an anti-bullying program successful.  With the new school year approaching there needs to be an increased effort going toward these programs to help increase school safety for the new school year.