Bullying
a concern at GNG High School Bullying by staff and administration counts too,
students say
By Elizabeth Prata
Gray--The SAD #15 Board of Directors received a letter
from twelve Gray-New Gloucester High School students
who participated in an Bullying Prevention Training
this past May. High School principal Paul Penna brought
the program to the school, and afterwards students
were asked to gather in groups to brainstorm concerns.
While the program offered information on student-to-student
bullying, the dozen students who met in Anti-Bullying
committee generated concerns that related to their
observations that bullying occurs at other levels
too.
Their letter to the Board, Superintendent, and Principal
Penna stated that:
"We all believe that Bullying is serious problem
at our high school and happens regularly between students.
More surprising was the number of students who felt
that Bullying is also prevalent in the following areas:
-- Student to staff: We are concerned that some students
are allowed to belittle, degrade, and intimidate certain
staff. It is a common belief that the consequences
for such behaviors depend on who the student is. Some
students are not given any consequence for swearing
at staff, while others are given varying degrees of
discipline ranging from a 3-hour detention to a suspension.
--Staff to student: Most of us have had personal experiences
of being on the receiving end of negative comments
from one or more staff (i.e., "you're stupid",
etc.). Some of us also related experiencing the inappropriate
discussion of other students when a specific student
leaves the room, (i.e., "that girl is so stupid
she is never going to amount to anything", "I
hope he/she leaves and never comes back", etc.).
One student discussed needing to drop a class and
retake it in summer school (at her expense) because
of the comments that were made to her by a teacher.
--Administrators to students: The physical rough-housing
that goes on between the administration and some students
concerns us. Some of us are uncomfortable witnessing
other students "taken down" by administration,
watching students pinched, be grabbed by the hood
of a sweatshirt and jerked back etc. Other students
in the group feel that this behavior is inappropriate
and encouraging students to be disrespectful to other
staff and students. Some students in the group feel
this is one way for the administration to relate to
the students. The remainder of the group feels that
there must be a better way to relate to students without
modeling potential dangerous behavior.
--Staff to Staff: We are concerned about the disparaging
comments made both between staff in direct reference
to one another and about other staff in unfavorable
terms. There is also concern about inappropriate conversations
overheard in the office about staff and by staff.
--Staff to parent: We are concerned about disparaging
remarks overheard in the office in regard to certain
parents.
For the purpose of the report, the students wrote,
"Bullying is defined as "repeated exposure,
over time, to negative actions from one or more other
students. Negative actions can include physical, verbal
or indirect actions that are intended to inflict injury
or discomfort upon another."
They asked the administration for its commitment and
support to making our high school a safer place for
all students in the future. Bullying is happening
at all levels and is a concern for all.
The
Superintendent followed up to the board with a letter
of her own, synopsizing Penna's concerns that the
students sent the letter without his knowledge. Penna
was concerned, Burns wrote, that the students' views
needed further clarification, documentation, investigation
and opportunities for problem-solving solutions by
an Administrator. He was also concerned that he had
not heard their concerns prior to the letter being
sent, and he would have appreciated the chance to
listen to the students' concerns without being left
out of the communication loop. Left, Burns. The
Monument file photo
"As a result of this letter, Mr. Penna intends
to develop a communication
protocol for all club and class advisors. Mr. Penna
will be meeting with these students when school starts
in the fall to address their concerns."
Right,
Penna. The Monument file photo
The
Superintendent followed up to the board with a letter
of her own, synopsizing Penna's concerns that the
students sent the letter without his knowledge. Penna
was concerned, Burns wrote, that the students' views
needed further clarification, documentation, investigation
and opportunities for problem-solving solutions by
an Administrator. He was also concerned that he had
not heard their concerns prior to the letter being
sent, and he would have appreciated the chance to
listen to the students' concerns without being left
out of the communication loop. Left, Burns. The
Monument file photo
protocol for all club and class advisors. Mr. Penna
will be meeting with these students when school starts
in the fall to address their concerns."
Right,
Penna. The Monument file photo