(Are laws against school bullying in Hawai’i effective, or do they need to be strengthened? I present two views: the first is an editorial citing bullying statistics as proof that laws need to be toughened. The second discusses survey results that show school bullying and cyberbullying has been declining. Which is right? In fairness, the editorial took note of the recent survey, but discounted it. Seems like there’s a bit of dissonance in paradise. — Mike Tully, Editor)
Hawaii Needs A School Bullying Policy Worthy Of Its Students
By Civil Beat Editorial Board
The state Board of Education recently approved proposals to bolster its student misconduct and discipline code, which are now being vetted in public meetings statewide.
The draft rules, which will ultimately need sign-off from the state Attorney General’s office and the governor, hold promise for helping our kids learn in safe environments. The changes call for raising bullying and cyberbullying to a Class A offense in secondary schools, and raising student-on-student sexual harassment in grades 5 and higher to Class A.
That means bullying and harassment would be considered as serious a problem as physical violence, theft and bringing guns into Department of Education facilities. Students who are found to have committed such acts could be suspended or even kicked out of schools.
It’s about time. And yet, it doesn’t go far enough.
RELATED STORY: Students Report Fewer Incidents of Bullying, Cyberbullying
By Big Island Now
More than 16,300 public high and middle school students participated in the Hawai‘i School Health Survey, a joint project of the Hawai‘i State Department of Education, Hawai‘i Department of Health and the University of Hawai‘i. The results show fewer Hawai‘i public middle school students say they have been bullied at school over the last two years.
Fewer Hawai‘i public middle school students say they have been bullied at school over the last two years, according to new youth survey results. And fewer students reported being cyberbullied or cyberbullying someone else.
“This is a positive trend that we want to see continue as our schools uphold the commitment to provide safe and nurturing learning environments for all students,” said Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto. “Bullying of any kind has no place in our schools and communities—it runs counter to everything we stand for as a public education system that’s grounded in respect, acceptance and aloha.”
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Screen Ireland condemns workplace harassment in wake of Prime Time investigation
by Niall Murphy, Scannain.com
Following the recent allegations of harassment and bullying by a small minority of the Irish film and television industry, as highlighted by RTÉ Prime Time last night, Fís Éireann/Screen IrelandFís Éireann / Screen Ireland
Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland (FÉ/SI) is the national development agency for Irish filmmaking and the Irish film, television and animation industry has issued a statement unreservedly condemning any behaviour, which constitutes the abuse of power.
“Ireland has some of the most hardworking and talented film and television crew working in the international film industry. It is unacceptable that any members of the Irish film and television sector should experience bullying, harassment or intimidation within their workplace. Screen Ireland would like to thank and support those who were brave enough to step forward and tell their stories to Prime Time. We admire their courage in speaking out and we fully support their actions in doing so. We would also like to thank RTÉ Prime Time for shining a light on this behaviour within the industry and for facilitating those who have been intimidated and harassed to tell their stories.
Screen Ireland remains committed to providing leadership for the industry, leading by example and taking an active role in ensuring that no form of harassment, bullying or the abuse of power of any kind is acceptable in any department within our industry. It is only by the entire industry working together – producers, directors, crew, writers, funders, guilds, broadcasters and all stakeholders – that we can stamp out any abuse of power within the sector.”
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School counselors: Overuse of word ‘bullying’ problematic
By: Susan Samples, WOOD-TV
GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) — Two weeks after a controversial school flyer about bullying angered parents at a Calhoun County school, counselors in another West Michigan district weighed in on the debate.
Turns out, a lot of schools are trying to help students differentiate between bullying and plain old rude or mean behavior.
“If everything’s bullying, I just fear (students) won’t learn how to help themselves, how to manage conflict,” explained Lori Koza, a mental health coordinator at Grandville Public Schools.
Koza collaborated with another school counselor at Grandville on a message published in the district’s October newsletter.
The front-page column is titled, “Managing Conflict” and subtitled “Bullying vs. Being Mean: What’s the Difference?”
“We put it out there because we do see kids who – their feelings are hurt by something – but they don’t know how to speak up for themselves or advocate for themselves or have those conversations,” said Anyssa Grendel, the counselor who authored the message with Koza.
“Kids are going to have arguments and disagreements in schools and we want to empower students to be able to address them and stand up for themselves,” added Grendel.
Both counselors worry, too, that calling everything bullying desensitizes students to the real thing.
“The actual word ‘bullying,’ I think in society now, is an umbrella term for anything hurtful or unkind,” said Koza. “Unfortunately, it takes away from real, true, hurtful, harmful bullying.”