Report: 46 Bullying Incidents Confirmed in Schools
A total of 154 incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying reported in 2011-12.
The Hillsborough School District investigated 154 reports of harassment, intimidation and bullying in the 2011-12 school year.
According to a report by Scott Rocco, the district’s anti-bullying coordinator and assistant superintendent for human resources, a total of 46 incidents were confirmed.
The incidents resulted in 17 in-school suspensions, six out-of-school suspensions and 11 detentions, according to the report presented at Monday’s school board meeting.
Other disciplinary actions taken were conferences with parents, suspension of privileges and individual counseling sessions.
Two referrals for therapy were also made.
Under a new state law, Rocco said, the incidents must both have to be “disruptive” to the school day and the victim must be a member of a protected class, such as race, gender, religion and sexual orientation.
Of the incidents, six involved race, 11 involved gender, seven involved disabilities, six involved sexual orientation and 20 involved “other distinguishing characteristics.” Some of the subjects could be members of two or more protected classes, Rocco explained.
The most common form of incident, the report stated, was verbal (33), followed by gesture (12) and physical (10.) Electronic communications accounted for eight incidents.
Because of the new law, this year’s report will serve as a baseline for the district, Rocco said.
The school district reviews its harassment, intimidation and bullying policies every year, Rocco said. Anti-bullying programs are integrated into the curriculum and each staff member, including substitutes, receives training, Rocco said.
The district also offers a number of conflict resolution programs and peer programs, he said.
The district also cooperates with the township police department, Rocco said.
Allen G.
11:38 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
So white males can't be bullied?
AW
12:38 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
I applaud the efforts of the district to reduce bullying and bias. While I think it is good to classify the types of bullying and bias that occurs, I think it is short-sighted to say that a victim must be in a protected class. To Allen's point, what if an average white-male is bullying another white-male. I'm a black male, super liberal, but I think we take things too far sometimes without common sense in trying to be politically correct. A white male could be bullied simply because he is an introvert, has funny hair, or has severe acne. Does that not get classified, accounted for and addressed in the new law? It should be. To a certain extent, bullying has existed since Adam and Eve, but if we're attacking the problem just now in certain ways, then lets do it in a way that makes sense and applies to everyone equally.
centurion
3:52 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
The victim has to be a member of a protected class? Talk about a discriminatory policy. So does that make those not in a protected class unable to be victims? Or are they always the perpetrator? Suppose that a non-protected class kid is bullied by other non-protected class kids? What then, no harm no foul?
Equality opportunity for all, special treatment for none!
Nancy Edwards
3:55 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Who wrote this law? "Protected Class"
What exactly does this criteria imply?
I thought we generally all hurt and bleed the same when it comes to bullying. I'm going assume Hillsborough decides on these cases not based on the color of ones skin or sexual orientation, but on the incident!
Marissa Sladek
8:54 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
Even so, this isn't working as it should. My son IS of a protected class and he was bullied for more than just this school year. He was cussed at, called a $hithead, told his breath smelled like diarrhea, told he was stupid and it wasn't considered a HIB event. My autistic son came home crying almost every day yet because the child didn't know my 6 year old is autistic we were told it wasn't a HIB event.
Curt Carnes
9:30 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
So long as the government continues to divide the citizens by race, religion, sex, WHATEVER, we will NEVER be a truly fully integrated society. If America wants to achieve true integration, then we MUST stop dividing ourselves, based on race, religion…………
Oh and just for the record. Reading that “protective class statement,” made me a "WASP" by birth, a little bit angry at this stupid law!