Bad news for bullies in Baltimore County public schools—suspensions are increasing among students who intimidate and harass their classmates.
A report released during Tuesday night's Baltimore County Public Schools Board of Education meeting detailed the county's efforts to combat bullying, action mandated by the state's Safe Schools Reporting Act of 2005.
The county's anti-bullying efforts include preventative measures and swift disciplinary actions—including suspension—according to Glenda Myrick, the county schools coordinator of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, who presented the report to the board.
Reported incidents of bullying have increased more than 350 percent between 2007 and 2011, going from 142 to 510. During that same time, suspensions related to bullying have nearly doubled, rising from 248 to 474, according to the report.
School officials attribute much of the rapid growth in reporting to a rule change in 2009 that allowed the system to count incidents reported by faculty members. Previously, only reports made by students and family members were counted, Myrick said.
As more students have access to the Internet and cell phones, cyberbullying has also emerged as a concern. Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have increasingly become avenues of intimidation and harassment, according to the report.
"It starts in elementary school, but the greatest trend is in middle school," Myrick said.
Bullying is most commonly reported among seventh-graders, she added.
"Character education" programs, especially in the county's elementary schools, are intended to help curb the problem among rising middle school students, Myrick said.
"The key is intervention and to get out in front of the issue—we really have to be proactive," board President said during the presentation.
Board member asked if bullying incidents have led to lawsuits against the county. The board's legal counsel confirmed that there are multiple pending lawsuits.
"It's part of a national trend and has gained a great deal of attention," said Superintendent following the meeting. "I think those lawsuits tend to be designed to help people seek some kind of help and support."
Hairston said he was unable to comment on the number of pending lawsuits against the county because it is a legal issue.
He emphasized the county's ongoing efforts toward combating bullying.
"You can have good instruction when there's a healthy climate, when kids get along well with each other. Addressing those social issues is just as important as the academic," he said.
Have you noticed an increase in bullying at your child's school? Share your advice for dealing with bullying in the comments.
The new Report it app, Student / Home version, allows students and parents to establish an immediate call / notification process to report bullying to preset contacts, such as school, home and friends. The app also features help resources such as a national suicide prevention hotline and crisis counseling. Don’t be bullied; don’t be a bystander. Be the difference - speak out if you or someone you know is being bullied or if you are witness to a bullying event. App Store - Report it Student / Home Versionitunes.apple.com
Kevin Kamenetz is freezing out county council members who went against him - how is that not bullying/punishing? Online commenters on political blogs of all stripes (conservative, liberal, straight, gay, white, black, whatever) make mean comments about those with whom they disagree - isn't that bullying? A while back, the author of the Worthington Post wrote an article on being pro-choice and how she should be able to choose to have an abortion if she became pregnant. While I don't agree that abortion is the answer, I respect her right to choose and we had an interesting dialogue going on in the comments until some woman (I'd like to call her something else, but then that would be bullying) decided to butt in and yelll at me for not supporting the author. That article had others who vehementlly and sometimes meanly disagreed with the author and this same woman told them off (for lack of a better phrase) as well. There was a lot of what could be considered bullying on both sides in that article and precious little civil discourse/disagreement. We adults need to stop bullying first before the kids will do so!
Rest assured, if Dems had the house majority, they've have done the same thing. This is a terrible comparative to the actual bullying of middle and high school kids though. No offense. It's politics baby.
The elementary programs may be in the curriculum, but I have no materials of their instruction occurring. As stated here: talk to your children. Eat together at the table. Ask them specific questions about their day at school-not yes or no questions. Promptly submit a report if bullying occurs...and copy BCPS. (The form is online.). Know the warning signs of being bullied. Teaching your child martial arts is not effective. Your child is only permitted to push the bully away so he/she can remove themself from the situation. If they respond physically, they too, can be suspended. As in my case, if the witnesses are the students/bullies, you may have a tough time proving things. One last thought.. . If bullying reports have increased so dramatically, why haven't the suspensions?
Recognizing the growing problem of bullying, whether on the playground or online, Jewish Community Services (JCS) Prevention Education health educators present programs at elementary, middle and high schools to raise awareness. They teach coping skills and alternative ways to resolve conflicts. When we ask teens what issue they most want to address in creating peer to peer prevention videos, they repeatedly choose bullying. Visit our website, www.ifIknew.org, to view a student-made video, “The Opposite of Bullying.” You can also read “Parent Talk” blogs at www.jcsbaltimore.org by JCS experts on bullying and cyberbullying. The more we know, the better we can work together to prevent bullying. Howard Reznick, LCSW-C Senior Manager JCS Prevention Education
In fact there are no state or local laws that protect children or adults from cyber bullying. Just ask the county states attorney. Find some teachers you know and ask them. Why do you think the city backed down from suspending kids. Because in a liberal society no does anything wrong.
It makes them look good but does nothing to solve the problem. All government agencies practice that type of reporting so they all look like they are doing their jobs.