School district reviewing efforts to prevent bullying

The Lincoln County School District is using a series of town hall meetings to engage community members in discussions about student bullying.

The first such town hall was conducted in late June; the next is scheduled for August at Taft Middle/High School in Lincoln City.

“Based on the feedback from the community, staff and students, we are working to create a plan for the next school year,” Taft Middle/High School Principal Nick Lupo said. “Bullying happens in several forms, and we use the district policy as a tool to determine if bullying is taking place.”

Lupo said it can often be challenging for school teachers and administrators to respond to the bullying incidents.

“Reporting is often an issue,” he said. “When an incident is reported, we follow our process. Throughout this process we communicate with the families. We also provide preventative measures through teaching and retracting expectations throughout the year.”

Depending on the incident, student suspects involved in the bullying could face penalties.

“After an investigation, we use the student code of conduct to determine what actions need to take place for both the victims and offenders,” he said. “We have multiple resources available (for victims), which include, but are not limited to, our school counselor, mental health, break spaces, and commutation plan.”

Lupo said school administrators and staff have taken steps to engage students and parents in communicating about bullying.

“We did a campaign and a few years ago around ‘see something, say something.’ This message was helpful so that students felt supported and that the information does get reported,” Lupo said, adding that when bullying does occur, it’s important for parents to communicate with their children.

Background

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines bullying as any unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by another youth or group of youths, who are not siblings or current dating partners, that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance, and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated.

According to the CDC website, bullying may inflict harm or distress on the targeted youth including physical, psychological, social, or educational harm. Common types of bullying include:

• Physical, such as hitting, kicking, and tripping;

• Verbal, including name-calling and teasing;

• Relational or social, such as spreading rumors and leaving out of the group;

• Damage to victim’s property.

Bullying can also occur through technology, which is called electronic bullying or cyberbullying. A young person can be a perpetrator, a victim, or both (also known as “bully/victim”).

Bullying is widespread in the United States. Bullying negatively impacts all youth involved, including those who are bullied, those who bully others, and those who witness bullying, known as bystanders.

Bullying is common. About one in five high school students reported being bullied on school property. More than one in six high school students reported being bullied electronically in the last year.

Bullying is a frequent discipline problem. Nearly 14 percent of public schools report that bullying is a discipline problem occurring daily or at least once a week. Reports of bullying are highest in middle schools (28 percent), followed by high schools (16 percent), combined schools (12 percent), and primary schools (9 percent).

Reports of cyberbullying are highest in middle schools (33 percent) followed by high schools (30 percent), combined schools (20 percent), and primary schools (5 percent).

Outcome

Bullying can result in physical injury, social and emotional distress, self-harm, and even death. It also increases the risk for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement, and dropping out of school.

Youth who bully others are at increased risk for substance misuse, academic problems, and experiencing violence later in adolescence and adulthood.

Youth who bully others and are bullied themselves suffer the most serious consequences and are at greater risk for mental health and behavioral problems.