October is National Bullying Prevention Month, an observance established by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center in 2006 to put a spotlight on the reality of bullying and the need for unified efforts to combat it.
Though PACER — Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights — works to support the educational rights of children with disabilities and their families, the Bullying Prevention Center was created in 2006 to provide assistance and support for all children who are the targets of bullying.
"We noted in early 2000 that we were receiving more and more contacts from parents about their kids with disabilities being involved with situations of bullying," said Julie Hertzog, director of the Bullying Prevention Center. "We said we need to do something about this issue, so we started the national bullying prevention center in 2006, and with that we decided that we wanted to help all students, not just students with disabilities, but all students who are vulnerable to this issue."
During October, the center puts an even greater emphasis on raising awareness and disseminating information about the need for a unified approach to bullying in an effort to "raise awareness and create change," Hertzog said.
Their primary focus lies in creating a network of support for the victims. Their efforts include a Unity Day on Oct. 22, during which participants display the color orange as a show of solidarity.
"We also have many schools and organizations sign up to be champions during the month, which means that ... you're listed on the PACER website and you're saying that you're going to participate in some way during the month, whether it's raising awareness, holding events, providing education directly to the students, holding contests, different ways to engage youths and students and parents," Hertzog said.
They also hold a Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying event at various locations across the country.
Thomas Hill, director of middle and high schools for Carroll County Public Schools, said the school system works to confront bullying year-round, not just in October.
"When you are being bullied it's a huge issue; when you have a victim and a bully a situation can have a huge impact in a short amount of time and should be addressed immediately," Hill said. "Lots of people think it's a rite of passage or a part of growing up, but it has some long-lasting and long-range effects."
Hertzog agreed that speaking out in support of those being bullied is important, and said that communication in general is essential to the prevention of bullying.
"With parents, it's having those conversations with their child that if they are being bullied that they have the right to talk about it, but it's also parents encouraging their kids who witness the bullying to a) not participate in it, b) to be supportive of the child who's being bullied, and c) saying that to be a supportive culture that says that bullying is not accepted at our school. It's everyone's responsibility to be aware that this is an issue that has a negative impact on so many."
Hertzog also said that educators and school administrators have a unique opportunity to prevent bullying.
"Schools are absolutely in a great position to be sharing information, to have a policy in place at their school that defines bullying and how it's going to be handled when it is reported, and also making sure that their educators and other adult personnel have training on what is the policy if a child is being bullied or if a child is bullying, and making sure that information is communicated to parents and students, and that parents and students also are aware of what their role is in addressing bullying in their school, because really it's about everybody working together," she said.
To combat bullying
In Carroll schools, bullying is addressed year-round in a multi-dimensional three-step approach using prevention methods, rewards and disciplinary protocols, Hill said.
At the beginning of the school year, principals address bullying with the students, Hill said, which is reinforced at different intervals throughout the year.
According to Hill, the biggest issue in schools is peer-to-peer interactions.
Several years ago, Carroll County schools started Unity Day, an annual event where students find commonalities through their differences, Hill said. Differences are one of the key things students tend to bully one another on, he said.
Carroll schools were also some of the first in the nation to implement Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies, Hill said, which recognize students for maintaining a safe and effective learning environment in schools. Students "caught" being respectful, responsible and ready receive coupons toward different prizes.
"It really produces positive results when you look at discipline," Hill said. "There has been a reduction in suspension rates over the last seven years by being proactive."
The school system also pushes bullying awareness campaigns through Rachel's Challenge, a program for student empowering and bullying education created in memory of Rachel Scott, who was the first student killed at Columbine High School in 1999.
"We've used Rachel's Challenge to get people to understand the effects when people go to extremes," Hill said. "It's always been an initiative with us and a focal point."
The school system also partners with the community mediation programs, Hill said.
"[Bullying] is not only an isolated issue in the schools; it is also out in the community. There's a connection on social media so to stop it is a team and a group effort," Hill said.
Students are equipped with lots of information on addressing bullying, Hill said. They receive information through the guidance program as well as in the health curriculum, he said.
At the end of the day, Hertzog said, she hopes people are inspired by the month's activities to take a stand against bullying and create the change necessary to prevent it.
"Well, we would say that we want people to take away that the end of bullying begins with you and that it's about each one of us getting involved in some way, whether it's supporting somebody who's being bullied, whether it's holding an awareness event at your school ... so there's a number of ways to get involved and show your support."
Reach staff writer Krishana Davis at 410-857-7862 or krishana.davis@carrollcountytimes.com.
