Posts Tagged ‘bully’
Most Oregon Schools Removed From Safety Watch List
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.
Are homeschoolers safe from bullies?
by Sarah Wilson
Bullying has been a problem throughout millennia. Seen in nonhuman primates, bullying seems to be part of our evolutionary make-up. But what was once viewed as “harmless” or “part of growing up,” is now deemed illegal. Having taken a dramatic turn toward unmitigated violence, bullying is being outlawed.
Is homeschooling the answer to this problem? By pulling our children out of the unnatural environment that is traditional school, are we now free from worries about bullying?
The answer, unfortunately, is no.
Bullying still occurs, even in homeschool circles. Children who are different are picked on. Children who stand out or stand up are singled-out. Perhaps this will bring comfort to folks concerned with homeschoolers’ “socialization”—now they know that homeschooled children have the potential for emotional scars, just as their traditionally schooled children do. Lucky them.
What needs to be understood, however, is the way bullying can be and is dealt with by homeschoolers. The difference between how homeschoolers and traditional-schoolers proceed is vast. This is not because any one group of parents loves or cares more about their children. It is completely due to access.
Homeschool parents are there. Homeschool parents are forced by their choice to homeschool to be present for their children. Children aren’t away from the family six hours or more, five days a week. Their friends aren’t strangers to the family. Parents and children participate in activities together, nearly all the time, not just on weekends or evenings. Parents and children learn how to communicate, how to feel safe together, how to read each other. These are necessary skills when spending so much time together.
Click here to view full article
Homeschooling can be a great way for parents to engage in their children’s learning experience. It is true that homeschooling is a great alternative for parents who opt to focus on teaching other skills to their children. Parents who home school choose to create an environment free of harassment that distracts a child from learning.
Unfortunately, even in homeschooling groups, bullying still occurs. This is a problem that has existed since the beginning of mankind. Bullying was often viewed as acceptable part of growing up, but not any more. More people are speaking up and fighting against it.
SchoolTipline is changing the way children communicate with school administrators and teachers in their schools. SchoolTipline is eliminating the “no snitch culture” and by engaging everybody to participate in creating a safe haven where children can learn and grow.
Teen takes life: Bullying the cause?
Trees wrapped in white plastic in honor of Iain Steele.
On June 3 of this year, 15 year old Iain Steele took his own life. His parents said they think bullying was the reason.
“Iain’s parents know their son had other problems, but they believe the harassment contributed to a deepening depression that hospitalized the 15-year-old twice this year. On June 3, while his classmates were taking final exams, he went to the basement of hisWestern Springs home and hanged himself with a belt.
A school spokeswoman said she did not believe Iain was bullied. Police are investigating the allegations.
‘No kid should be afraid for himself to go to school,’ his father said. ‘It should be a safe environment where they can intellectually thrive. And he was, literally, just frightened to go to school, fearing what he would have to deal with on that day. And it was day after day.’
his classmates at McClure Junior High School in Western Springs often called him “emo” — a slang term for angst-ridden followers of a style of punk music, said Sikora, 15.
The bullying could also be physical, Iain’s friends and parents said. In 8th grade at McClure, one bully pushed Iain into a locker while he was on crutches and accused him of faking an injury to get out of gym class. But Iain rarely shied away from his tormentors, his father said, and in this case, Iain punched the bully in the jaw.
‘He was mainly bullied,’ Sikora said, ‘only because he was different, or hurt or stupid things like that. He never bothered anybody. … It was all just because he was different and an easy target.’”
Steele continued to be bullied and was hospitalized twice this year for depression and anxiety. He began seeing a therapist and psychiatrist and taking medication for depression and anxiety.
On June 3, he took his own life.
SchoolTipline sends its condolences to the Steele family during this difficult time.
Relentless bullying, like that faced by Iain, must be stopped.
By getting students involved school administrators can be made aware of more cases of bullying. With administrators seeing the problems hopefully tragic cases, like this one, can be prevented.
Thurgood Marshall students create anti-bullying mural.
Thurgood Marshall Middle School students in front of the mural.
Middle-school students at Thurgood Marshall Middle School completed a mural in the style of artist Keith Haring to illustrate the importance of respect in the school community.
The project was in response to an anti-bullying assembly that took place in the spring at the school, which is a regional, public magnet school that is affiliated with Six to Six Magnet School.
David Weitzman, a social worker at Frenchtown Elementary School in Trumbull, had visited Thurgood Marshall students to discuss his experience working in the New York City Public School System.
To address violence in New York City schools, Weitzman conceived a project to create and paint murals in the hallways of schools that promote peace, understanding, respect and love. After the project was completed, the school system noted a significant decrease in violence on school property.
In the Bridgeport mural, the theme “Respect is learned, earned and then returned” is illustrated in three frames.
It is important to teach children at an early age to respect other students. Thurgood Marshal Middle School is an example of how parents, teachers and kids work together to stop bullying. The mural will remind students to be courteous and respectful to others.
Bullying is a serious issue that affects not only the children who are bullied, but family members who see the victim suffer from the abuse.
SchoolTipline applauds Thurgood Marshall school administrators for taking the initiative to include children in this project.
SchoolTipline Featured in OC Register
“In recent years, pictures of smiling teens who took their own lives have been plastered across newspapers and television screens nationwide – their parents naming bullying as the culprit responsible for their child’s death.
The Mendez family of Orange County recently filed a $3 million lawsuit against the Capistrano Unified School District saying their son, Daniel, 16, of San Clemente High School, killed himself May 1 because of extreme bullying.
“Everything I read in that story is what is happening to my son, all the same signs are there,” Raminfard said. “I do not want to see my son’s picture end up in the paper like that.”
There are groups parents can seek out to help with bullying if they feel their schools are not taking the issue seriously.
SchoolTipline is an anonymous service for students and parents to report potential threat or bully attacks via the group’s Web site or a text message. After receiving a report, School Tip Line immediately notifies school officials and follows up on progress.
The service is for students who want to report school violence but are afraid to step forward.”
(Click here for the full article)
Florida Families Protest School Bullying
K.C. Cummings, left, who was a kindergartner this year, and student Sam Knecht march Monday in Florida in a protest against bullying in schools.
FLORIDA — K.C. Cummings had a tough first year at school.
A small group of other students taunted him, pushed him around and punched him.
“They hurt my feelings,” the 5-year-old kindergarten student said Monday afternoon. “I don’t know why. No reason.”
The Cummingses finally pulled their son out of Golden Hill Elementary School after pressing Florida School District officials all year, without a resolution, to help K.C.
Monday, they took their fight to the street, organizing an anti-bullying protest to draw more attention to the issue.
“They never addressed our problem,” Marianne Cummings said. “We felt it wasn’t safe enough to have our child in the school.”
About two dozen parents and young students marched in a circle in front of the district offices in the S.S. Seward Institute on Main Street. They carried signs with slogans such as “Zero tolerance 4 bullies” and “It could happen to your child.”
The protest was in the late afternoon, Marianne Cummings said, so it wouldn’t interrupt the school day and kids could participate.
Nick Knecht, a fourth-grader, marched with a sign reading “Bully Buster Patrols.” He said he hears kids call each other names and sees them push each other around. Nothing too serious, but he says the problem is ignored.
“They don’t talk about it,” he said of teachers in the school. “Something needs to be done.”
Florida Superintendent Douglas Burnside said the district has adopted a new anti-bullying policy that will include training for staff and teachers to be implemented in the fall.
The policy covers physical, verbal and psychological abuse, as well as electronic bullying over social networks and instant messaging.
Cummings helped draft the policy, but she fears it won’t be enough. Her son will attend private school next year.
“We did implement positive changes, for the future,” Cummings said, “but you can’t give up the fight.”
(click here to view the full article)
I can’t imagine how frustrating this situation must be for K.C.’s parents.
SchoolTipline applauds the efforts made by parents in Florida School District to stop bullies. The district is adopting a new anti-bullying policy that will hopefully stop the problem. Some don’t understand the seriousness of the consequences of being bullied.
It is unfortunate that K.C. has to move to a different school because school officials did not solve the issue. At a tender age of 5, no child should be bullied. Parents must teach their children to treat others with respect.
Bullying is serious issue and SchoolTipline is making a difference in schools across the country
Bullying Statistics
Bullied Child Hangs Himself
A young boy committed suicide by hanging after excessive bullying from other pupils
A 12-year-old schoolboy hung himself on Tuesday afternoon after apparently suffering at the hands of bullies at his local school.
Ekstra Bladet newspaper reports that Robert Larsen from Kisserup on Zealand suffered from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as does his younger brother, and proved an easy target for bullies at the school.
His mother was too distressed to talk about the circumstances of her son’s death, but said she was well aware that he was having problems at school. His younger brother moved to a different school because of the bullying and Robert was also due to move.
An older pupil told the newspaper that because of his condition Robert hated to be touched and the bullies quickly cottoned on to it.
(click her for full article)
SchoolTipline sends its condolences to the Robert Larsen’s family and friends.
It is a shame to hear what children go through as they are bullied by their peers. It is unfortunate that even when parents know their children are being bullied, they feel powerless.
Where were the school officials? Why did nobody do something to help Robert Larsen?
There are opportunities to help those who are bullied. Bullying must not be overlooked and considered normal. Students should report bullying and help children like Robert enjoy a normal childhood.
SchoolTipline empowers students with the necesary tools to report and stop abuse.
Fifth graders say no to Bullying
This story from Gillette News Record:
“Bullying may start out small with one preschooler taking another’s Play-Doh, but before long it can escalate to harassment, intimidation and far more violent acts.
Though adults may have a good idea of how to fight the problem, they can’t begin to see like the students can just how big of a problem bullying is. “Things happen outside of the view of adults,” Conestoga Elementary Principal Steve Anderson said.
That’s why some Conestoga fifth-grade students are creating their own plan of action to deal with bullying.
Students Aaron Russel, Hunter Sylte, Kevin Zipperian, Isabella Choy, Dylan Velasquez and Bradley Halloran were chosen by their teacher, Dave Hardesty, because he felt they could handle the extra work.
More importantly to them, they all had been impacted by bullying in some way.
It was more than just an assignment, it was personal…
“Bullying has been here since the time of cavemen,” said Bradley, likening bullies to the dinosaurs picking on cavemen.
Isabella doesn’t like the bullying that she sees.
“It makes you feel a little angry seeing kids being bullied,” Isabella said.”
(Click here for entire article)
Through a survey these fifth graders found that a majority of students thought after school hours had the highest concentration of bullying. They concluded that this was due to the lack of supervision.
SchoolTipline applauds these students as they take a stand against bullying. We recognize that bullying occurs everywhere, most often under the radar of school administration. However, with SchoolTipline’s anonymous reporting system, these incidents can be handled appropriately.
Why do kids bully?
There is no one single cause of bullying among children; individual, family, peer, school, and community factors can place a child or youth at risk for bullying. These factors work individually, or collectively, to contribute to a child’s likelihood of bullying.
- Family risk factors for bullying:
- A lack of warmth and involvement on the part of parents.
- Overly-permissive parenting (including a lack of limits for children’s behavior).
- A lack of supervision by parents.
- Harsh, physical discipline.
- Parent modeling of bullying behavior.1
- Victimization by older brothers.2
- Peer risk factors for bullying:
- Friends who bully.
- Friends who have positive attitudes about violence.1
- Some aggressive children who take on high status roles may use bullying as a way to enhance their social power and protect their prestige with peers.
- Some children with low social status may use bullying as a way to deflect taunting and aggression that is directed towards them, or to enhance their social position with higher status peers.3, 4
- Other Factors:
- Bullying thrives in schools where faculty and staff do not address bullying, where there is no policy against bullying, and where there is little supervision of students—especially during lunch, bathroom breaks, and recess.
- Models of bullying behavior are prevalent throughout society, especially in television, movies, and video games.5
- When children are aggregated together, they associate with others who are similar to them or who have qualities or characteristics that in some way support their own behaviors.
- For teenage girls, social aggression can be a way of creating excitement or alleviating boredom. It is also used as a method of gaining attention from other girls in order to secure friendships.6
Education.com editors have published in their website, a series of articles about bullying. They are trying to help parents understand the problem that continues to affect children and teens across America. This article addresses the possible causes of why children bully each other. A combination of peer pressure and carelessness of parents can trigger a child to bully his or her peers. Bullying is a serious issue that should not be taken lightly by parents. This series of articles helps students, parents, teachers and administrators detect early signs of bullying.
Schooltipline urges students not to take any threat or misbehavior lightly. Schooltipline’s goal is to engage every student in the program and prevent tragedies in the future.
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