Sonora, CA — Sonora High Principal Todd Dearden says bullying is a part of high school life throughout the country but …
"While we have had bullying incidents we have had no suicides as a result of that type of behavior.
We have two specific programs we use. We have our Life Skills class which is our ninth grade class where bullying is addressed and taught and not tolerated. Then we have our Link Crew program which is kind of our freshman support group and it’s a group of students that teach the freshmen how to get through their freshman year, teach them where the facilities are, teach them where the people are and then just support them in getting their homework done and when people make fun of them or tease them they support them through that. Link Crew has really been supportive and helpful in diminishing the effects of bullying."
Dearden adds that bullying (either face to face or cyber) will not be tolerated. If a student is caught bullying he or she will be automatically suspended. Dearden will then call for a parent conference to inform the parents of their child’s unacceptable behavior.
In addition Dearden commented that if a student is being bullied he or she should contact the Principal’s Office immediately. Dearden, himself, will then counsel the accused party and he states that, "If I know someone is being bullied I have a very good success rate in stopping it. If I don’t know it’s happening I’m not so successful."
Bullying has been in the headlines of late due to a number of suicides. According to ABC News.com four students have taken their own lives over the past couple of years due to bullying … all at the same Ohio high school.
In Massachusetts recently a female transfer student from Ireland took her own life. A year ago (also in Massachusetts) an 11 year old boy attending a charter school took his own life because of constant teasing and bullying.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
