West Hancock talks Bullying
IN RECENT YEARS, BULLYING HAS BECOME A SCARY SITUATION FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IN FACT, IT’S BEEN THE WORD ASSOCIATED WITH MANY SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND TEENAGE SUICIDES. THE WEST HANCOCK SCHOOL DISTRICT RECENTLY HELD A PUBLIC WORKSHOP ON BULLYING AND HARASSMENT, WHAT THE LEGAL DEFINITION IS, HOW TO IDENTIFY IT, AND WHAT ACTIONS TO TAKE IF A BULLYING SITUATION OCCURS. WEST HANCOCK SUPERINTENDENT WAYNE KRONEMANN TELLS ABOUT THE WORKSHOP.
:59 seconds bullying meeting … “do a better job”bullying meeting
THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF BULLYING IS UNWANTED, AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR AMONG SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN THAT INVOLVES A REAL OR PERCEIVED POWER IMBALANCE. THE BEHAVIOR IS REPEATED, OR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE REPEATED, OVER TIME. BULLYING INCLUDES ACTIONS SUCH AS MAKING THREATS, SPREADING RUMORS, ATTACKING SOMEONE PHYSICALLY OR VERBALLY, AND EXCLUDING SOMEONE FROM A GROUP ON PURPOSE.
ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS BULLYING IS TO STOP IT BEFORE IT STARTS. THE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTS THAT SCHOOL OFFICIALS SHOULD CONDUCT ASSESSMENTS TO DETERMINE HOW OFTEN IT HAPPENS, TO WHICH STUDENTS AND WHERE IT HAPPENS. SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHOULD ALSO LAUNCH AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO ENGAGE STUDENTS AND PARENTS ON THE EFFECTS OF BULLYING, THEY SHOULD REINFORCE POSITIVE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS, CREATE POLICIES AND A REPORTING SYSTEM, AND CONDUCT CONTINUOUS TRAINING SESSIONS ON THOSE SCHOOL POLICIES.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO STOP BULLYING IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, GO TO STOPBULLYING.GOV.