Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Find out how your teen can participate in a discussion.
- SCHOOLS
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Tuesday, February 26
The Howard County Public School System is hosting a series of forums next month to let students discuss the impact of bullying on the school climate. Each of the four events is for high school and middle school students (sign up here). Sessions are limited to 50 students apiece. The forums will be facilitated by student leaders. School officials intend to use feedback from the series to inform an anti-bullying task force. Though the events are for students only, waiting areas will be available for parents. The schedule is as follows:
Monday, February 25, 2013
Find out how your teen can participate in talks about bullying.
- SCHOOLS
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Monday, February 25
There will be a series of forums on bullying in March hosted by the Howard County public school system to talk about how it is affecting the overall school climate. Each of the four forums are for high school and middle school students, and the sessions are limited to 50 students each. (Students can sign up here.) The forums will be facilitated by student leaders and school officials will use the information to inform an anti-bullying task force. A waiting area for parents will be available at the events; however, they are just for students, school officials said. The forums are scheduled on the following dates and schools: Thursday, March 7, 6:30-8 p.m. - Elkridge Landing Middle School Thursday, March 14, 6:30-8 p.m. - Reservoir High …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Is bullying really worse than it used to be? If it is, should we blame the Internet?
A Maryland middle schooler made national headlines recently after his mother took to her social media accounts to get people to send letters of encouragement to her son who was a victim of bullying. Noah Brocklebank of Columbia, MD received thousands of letters from others saying "it gets better." That often prompts the question from Patch readers: Is bullying really worse than it used to be? If it is, should we blame the Internet? There’s no consensus among experts on those questions, but there is consensus that 1) bullying is a huge problem that’s only beginning to be addressed, and 2) new forms of bullying require new forms of support. Once people understand the scale of the problem, they usually have a new question: How can I help? The…
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Is bullying really worse than it used to be? If it is, should we blame the Internet?
The Columbia story of Noah Brocklebank has gained national attention as the latest high-profile story about bullying. That often prompts the question from Patch readers: Is bullying really worse than it used to be? If it is, should we blame the Internet? There’s no consensus among experts on those questions, but there is consensus that 1) bullying is a huge problem that’s only beginning to be addressed, and 2) new forms of bullying require new forms of support. Once people understand the scale of the problem, they usually have a new question: How can I help? The scale of the bullying problem About 18 percent of U.S. students said they are afraid that someone will hurt or bother them at school, according to a survey on youth risk behavior …
Monday, February 11, 2013
After Karen Brocklebank's son threatened to kill himself, she asked for support on social media and it came, in droves.
On Jan. 28, Karen Brocklebank wrote the first post on the Letters for Noah Facebook Page. The post described how her son was dealing with depression caused by bullying on social media sites and in his Howard County middle school. "This past weekend he posted on his Instagram account that he was planning to commit suicide on his birthday," wrote Brocklebank. "He also posted images of his arm where he has been cutting himself for the past two months." She was inspired to write about Noah's condition after sitting in the emergency room at his bed, where police had taken him after hearing about the Instagram post. "Noah has been dealing with bullying for the past year," wrote Brocklebank. "He has been feeling alone and left out, ostracized …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The program was founded in 2005.
One hundred and sixty one students will sign a pledge committing to be drug free, gang free, and to abstain from bullying Dec. 18 after completing a six week program by the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections. “The COPES program is a valuable part of our mission to help students become college and career ready," program head Gloria McCoy said. "The guidance lessons that are taught by volunteers from the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections help to build the capacity of our students to make good decisions and avoid peer pressure. We are very fortunate to have such a committed community partner.” The students have participated in weekly sessions called C.O.P.E.S. (Correctional Officers Protecting and Educating …
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
County executive, school system, bar association sponsoring film screening at The Mall in Columbia on bullying in schools.
UPDATED - 2:16 p.m. - This story was updated to include comments regarding the policy to not allow people under the age of 18 into the screening. Howard County government, educators and lawyers are sponsoring a showing of Bully at The Mall in Columbia this fall. The film, a 2011 documentary about children’s experiences with bullying in school, will be screened for adults over the age of 18 on Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 at the AMC Theatre in Columbia mall. County Executive Ken Ulman announced the screening of the film—which is only showing at select theaters—in a prepared statement Tuesday. “We, as a community, must pay attention to the children in our schools who are potentially vulnerable to feeling unsafe and unprotected,” said Ulman in the …
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The security coordinator for the Howard County Public School System said each school will have the capacity to look into Facebook, Twitter situations.
As school starts in Howard County, so does a new program to investigate online threats to students. Kevin Burnett, coordinator of security for the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS), said that a staff member at each school has been authorized to look into potential situations arising out of social media. Previously, all staff at HCPSS institutions were firewalled from using social media sites, said Burnett. “If there’s a rumor that something is on Facebook or Twitter, that security officer is going to have bypass access to pull that information up and conduct an investigation,” said Burnett in a phone interview with Patch. “That’s relatively new based on a meeting last year at Howard [High]," said Burnett. He was referencing an …
Monday, May 7, 2012
"You're not alone in this world," the Baltimore Ravens running back told victims of bullying at a Ray of Light event in Ellicott City.
Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice had his own problems as a kid, which might have been what made what he said at an anti-bullying event especially poignant. In the audience was the family of Grace McComas, the 15-year-old Glenelg student who took her own life on Easter after constant harassment in school and on social media. Rice was at Howard High School Saturday to address a Ray of Light anti-bullying event organized by Howard County Councilman Calvin Ball after two Howard County students committed suicide this school year. "To think about somebody getting picked on and somebody losing their life–that really struck a nerve in my body in my soul and eveything that I stand for," Rice told the crowd of more than 300 students, …
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
A "freeze mob" on Tuesday at Howard High was one of several events aimed at bringing awareness to the emotionally charged topic.
After Glenelg student Grace McComas, 15, killed herself on Easter Sunday, her friends began a movement called "Blue4Grace" in which they wore blue at her wake to take a stand against bullying. Grace's parents said she was harassed online for months, according to The Baltimore Sun. "Can children not take a minute and realize they’re killing each other over petty things?" wrote one commenter on the Blue4Grace page. Students at Howard High School took more than a minute on Tuesday. Time stood still between second and third periods as they collectively paused during what is called a "freeze mob" while the song "Lean on Me" played. In Laurel, advocates have created anti-bullying programs to help young people being bullied or who are bullies …
Peggy Anne
10:45 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Internet bullies can be reported, and blocked. People need to give classes, and empower the victims of bullying. We wouldn't tolerate a phone call from a bully, why tolerate it on line ? Bullies are cowards, and in the minority. They must lead miserable lives. I can see bashing a nasty corporation verbally, but not harmless individuals. When bullies start agrivating someone in class, the teacher … more ›