Groton Schools Proceed With Plan To Prevent Bullying
District's survey of students in grades 3-12 received 3,023 responses.
Groton is moving forward with a plan to monitor and prevent bullying in the public schools, and is compiling the results of a survey done last spring of more than 3,000 students.
Connecticut passed legislation last summer to strengthen laws against bullying, and required districts to submit a “safe school climate plan” by Jan. 1 outlining how they would enforce the rules.
Groton’s plan was recently adopted and is posted on the district website.
“In one respect, we’re right at the starting line with everyone else, because the deadline was Jan. 1,” said Paul Pattavina, supervisor of special education and chairman of Groton's newly-formed Safe School Climate Committee.
But in another respect, the district started early. Last spring, Groton surveyed students in third through twelfth grade to collect baseline information about bullying and received 3,023 responses.
Results are still being compiled, but show generally that students report a similar amount of bullying in Groton as in districts nationwide. The average is 15 to 30 percent, and Groton falls in that range, Pattavina said.
He added that the incidence of bullying varies by school, grade and gender.
Younger children were more likely to report bullying than older children. Boys were more likely to report it than girls, he said.
The 42-question survey asked questions like, “How often have you been bullied at school in the past couple of months?” then asked other questions to find out what that entailed.
Examples include: “I had money or other things taken away from me or damaged”, “I was hit, kicked, pushed, shoved around, or locked indoors” and “Other students told lies or spread false rumors about me and tried to make others dislike me.”
Groton also began a training program this summer to address bullying, that will be expanded throughout the public schools in the coming years.
Sean McKenna, assistant principal at the high school, was trained in Olweus Bullying Prevention, a program designed for students in grades 3-10 and used nationwide.
McKenna will train a team of teachers, administrators, support personnel and others at Fitch High School and Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School in April, who will then train the rest of the staff at those schools.
The plan is to complete staff training for the coming academic year, then train staff in two more schools until the program is expanded through the district.
In addition to the district’s school climate committee, the state requires each school to designate a “safe school climate specialist” by July 1 who would investigate or oversee investigation of reported acts of bullying.
School employees would be required to report incidents of bullying within one school day after seeing the act or hearing about it. Employees would be required to file a written report within two days of reporting the incident.
Marie Tyler Wiley
8:05 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
First things first: Get the parents to behave like parents. In another word: PARENT!
Tell your children that bullying is unacceptable behavior and will have severe consequences. I have also told my children that they better stand up for anyone they see being picked on. The conversation normally flows into: treat people the way you want to be treated. I would be horrified if I found out one of my children was bullying someone! And they know their heads would roll ( I sound like bully too...but it's really not that way...I'm just tough with them and my expectations).
Secondly the school should have a zero tolerance policy; the first time a kid bullies, drag that child's parents into school. If these parents are being dragged out of work and are inconvenienced (and knowing that no employer wants to deal with this:their child is bullying someone)...chances are...you're going to see a quick end to the bullying!
Second time the child is suspended...3rd...I don't know...and it should be severe.
There are too many victims who endure emotional pain that in a lot of cases, as we know...result in suicide attempts or worst. :(
Jason Glenn
11:49 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Unfortunately Marie, bullies have children, and bullies do not care about anyone or what anyone has to say.
Marie Tyler Wiley
12:19 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
Touche' Jason...and I must share additionally...that now a days...people are so busy trying to keep up..that they slide on their verbal communication with their children on what is right...what is acceptable and what their expectations are of their own children...and what the response will be if those expectations are not met.
Sometimes we, as parents...assume our children KNOW...what and how we want them to behave...All I'm saying is don't assume and have the conversation. :)
Judy
9:23 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
I'm a recently retired upper elementary teacher and have seen the intensity of bullying increasing. I used a book entitled The Hundred Dresses in September as my first thematic unit because it was about a popular girl who bullied a poor girl. As students read this book, it became apparent the book was more about the bully's friend who never spoke up for the poor girl and how she carried guilt because she knew it was wrong. She felt empathy but she was afraid she would be the one bullied if she spoke up. Because I used this as part of a thematic unit, much learning occurred. They became immersed in the topic, researched the author and the time period in which it was written - WWII. The students experienced empathy for the three main characters. It was if they knew them. The conversation in the classroom showed great understanding of the effects of bullying. It set the tone for the entire year.
I strongly suggest teachers read this book and learn the author's purpose for writing her story. I know this is on library shelves. I was able to buy paperback books for my class. Parents can use it at home but the power to affect change in behavior occurs within the dynamics of the classroom. Used correctly as more than a mere story it can change a community. By the way, this was written because the author was aware hatred was being directed at select groups. That is not revealed in the story. It is timeless, relevant and thought provoking.
JuliannaSmith
10:58 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
In parenthood the thing that we would not want in our child to experience, is to be bullied. And unfortunately, these cases nowadays were very visible especially in school. Thus, I was searching sites that will help me know what to do about bullying issues and an Apps that can guard my loved ones in case of any emergencies. Then I found this link http://www.tsue-thatswhatshesaid.com/2011/09/keeping-your-child-safe-supporting.html that talks about securing every family in modern way. You can also check that link for your own good.