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Saturday, February 21, 2004 Middle school makes bullying a serious issueBy LYNN BULMAHN EDGEWATER — A Miami student kills another boy in a middle-school restroom. Video cameras record incidents of a student being repeatedly punched by fellow riders on a school bus. The Columbine High School murders were said to have resulted, in part, from the two teenage gunmen’s long-simmering anger against classmates who taunted them. Were these incidents all the result of bullying? To help prevent such tragedies, New Smyrna Middle School has declared itself a “bully-free, caring community.” It is joining more than 20 other elementary and middle schools throughout Volusia County School District in starting up a “Bully-proofing your school” program to teach students how to deflect and prevent aggression. Connie Sorice, the district’s lead psychologist, said the curriculum was fully funded by the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Grant. Authors of a book on bullying — using words or actions to hurt or humiliate someone else — say that it happens every seven minutes on school playgrounds. While bullying “is not a problem that is going to go away overnight,” or even in six weeks, Sorice said the program is helping to change the culture of the school so that aggression is not acceptable. Training on how to handle bullies is given to school personnel ranging from principals to bus drivers, she said, in addition to the pupils themselves. “The program offers strategies to victims of bullying and bystanders alike, as well as giving reasons why its not a good idea to bully,” Molly Gardner, a sixth-grade guidance counselor, said. “Kidding is one thing, but bullying is not kidding,” said middle school Principal Gary Marks. “Bullying is hurtful and harmful behavior. While kids do pick on one another, I think a child knows when it’s over and beyond what is OK.” The school year started with social studies classes teaching six week-long lessons on bullying. Around campus, posters tell pupils how to handle bullies and parents are given a book, “Bully-Proofing Your Child: First Aid for Hurt Feelings.” The 17-page book says youngsters most likely to be bullied may be “under-reactive” — those who don’t fight back, protect themselves or stick up for themselves — or “over-reactive” — pupils who egg on or tease the bully without thinking of consequences. In turn, bullies don’t feel guilty about being cruel. Both boys and girls can bully. However, Gardner said, girls tend to use gossip and alienation tactics to bully instead of threatening to physically harm their victim. Most children — about 85 percent — are not bullies or victims, Gardner said. The “bully-proofing” materials instruct those youngsters to become “caring community members” who help the victim resist his tormentor. “There is strength in numbers,” said the counselor, who designed no-bullying buttons for the campus. Vicki White, a parent of a New Smyrna Beach Middle School pupil, drives some sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders to and from the school. In her carpool group’s conversations, the mother said she’s noticed the teenagers now recognize bully tactics and use language from the “bully-proofing” lessons. “They’re starting to really think about it,” said White, a member of the School Advisory Council. However, White said, she does not think the campus has a bad problem with bullies. “Most of it is just normal kid stuff,” she added. As a parent, White said she is glad to see the school address the problem before it ever gets out of hand. “It’s something all of us, whether adults or kids, need to be concerned about.” Sorice said the program has been “very well received” in participating schools and it will be expanded to include seven more schools next year. |
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