Bullying

A pervasive problem that has been receiving a great deal of attention involves the increase in school violence. One type of school violence is referred to as bullying which is student on student harassment. Bullying includes one student’s physical and/or verbal abuse of another. One dynamic of bullying is that peers often watch without intervening in support of the student who is being targeted. Often bullying occurs over a long period of time with the victim remaining silent either because of social pressure, shame or grave concern about increased victimization. The problem is so extensive in the public schools that several incidents have resulted in student suicide and/or hospitalization. Students with disabilities have historically been subjected to teasing, harassment, and other forms of victimization. With the increase in school violence, students with disabilities may have even a greater likelihood of being bullied than their nondisabled peers.

Dr. Ellenmorris Tiegerman is the Founder and Executive Director of the School for Language and Communication Development (SLCD) in Glen Cove and Professor Emeritus at the Derner Institute for Advanced Psychology Studies at Adelphi University. She can be reached at 516-609-2000 and www.slcd.org.

In 2005, Jeffrey Johnston committed suicide after becoming the victim of bullying by a classmate. For three years, Jeffrey’s mother worked to memorialize the memory of her son and protect other children from bullying by advocating for the passage of a law. In 2008, the State of Florida passed legislation requiring schools to protect children from harassment and bullying including cyber bullying in K to 12 public schools. Public schools in the State of Florida are required to adopt policies prohibiting bullying and harassment and requiring schools to report all such instances. Schools must notify both the parents of the bully and the parents of the victim. School districts must involve students, parents, teachers, administrators, volunteers, community leaders and law enforcement agencies in the development of a school-based policy. The policy must be implemented throughout the school year and integrated within the school’s curriculum, discipline procedures and other violence prevention efforts.

For parents of students with disabilities, they need to become proactive about what is happening within the school environment. Schools on Long Island and in New York City should have policies and procedures about student bullying and harassment. Parents should access information on these policies by looking either on the school’s web site or within the student handbook. Parents need to read the policies and procedures so that they understand what safeguards have been put in place to protect children. It is also important to discuss this issue at PTA meetings not only to express any individual concerns but also to determine if other parents are aware of incidents occurring in schools. School districts are required by the New York State Education Department to document incidents of violence and report those incidents either within a school report card or within a document which is submitted to the Department. For parents who are interested in this information, these documents can be obtained by means of a Freedom of Information Request (FOIL Request). Parents should speak to school counselors if they have any questions about the school’s policies and procedures.

Parents also need to speak directly to their children about bullying to provide not only information but assurances of parental support. Children should be encouraged to share their feelings and fears and ultimately if parents have any suspicions, they need to mobilize immediately to meet with school officials. In the case of students with disabilities, many of our children may not be able to explain their feelings, thoughts and fears. Parents often indicate that their children are not taken seriously because of their disabilities and their inabilities to express themselves. For a parent of a child with a disability who cannot speak and/or who is in a wheelchair, being forgotten on a bus is only one nightmare. Parents need to be proactive by speaking with teachers, school officials and other parents to protect their children’s physical and emotional safety in school.