Officials: Bullying will
draw harsh punishment
Freehold Borough puts renewed emphasis
on student behavior
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

FREEHOLD — School officials are not wasting any time putting their anti-bullying policy into practice.

At a Board of Education meeting on Sept. 8, Superintendent of Schools Philip Meara told parents the board is making a concerted effort to put new programs in place to protect their children from those students who would hurt them in school.

Referring to the act of bullying as "a hidden issue," Meara told parents that staff members had attended an anti-bullying workshop on the first day of school. He then introduced Darrell Jackson, principal of the Freehold Intermediate School, Park Avenue, and told parents that Jackson had prepared a presentation to explain exactly how the policy will be enacted in the K-8 district’s schools.

Referring to bullying as a "global problem" Jackson, with the aid of a video presentation, told parents that "bullying affects rich kids, poor kids, those with a high academic record and those who are considered underachievers as well."

The video presentation, "Preventing Violence and Bullying: A Formula For Improving School Climate and Safety," explained that the issue of bullying was so widespread in Europe that the continent’s leaders felt the need to call a conference to study the issue and address how to combat the problem.

Jackson told parents of several incidents, which when first read, may have been describing "America’s Decaying Youth."

But the incident of a student stabbing a teacher actually happened in Japan, a country generally thought of as the model of non-violence.

Jackson cited another incident in which a Canadian youth was driven to jumping off a bridge. He left a seven-page letter detailing how he had been tormented by his classmates.

The principal also referred to the 1999 tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., stating that, "It is public knowledge that the assailants at Columbine were themselves the victims of bullying."

Jackson gave his audience some examples of acts that district administrators consider to be bullying. He cited name calling; written insults; ostracizing students from others; threatening students; making them feel uncomfortable; hitting, kicking; and making students do things they don’t want to do as acts of bullying.

"Bullying is a sobering concept," Jackson said as he recounted his own experience as a youngster, remembering one day when he had to climb a tree while wearing roller skates to get away from children who were chasing him. He said the situation eventually resulted in violence.

"There were no winners that day," he said quietly.

He said his presentation was meant to give parents a good picture of what is be­ing done in the school district and noted that all New Jersey school districts were required to have an anti-bulling policy in place by Sept. 1.

Jackson said the policy requires "that students conform to reasonable standards of acceptable behavior and respect the person, property and rights of others."

He called Freehold Borough’s anti-bul­lying policy "child-centered," as opposed to some districts which use a "lock ’em up and throw away the key" method.

"We then need to establish the degree of order necessary to the educational pro­gram in which students are engaged," he said, adding that students who present chronic behavior problems would be iden­tified and that suspensions and expul­sions may be needed.

"In a post-Columbine and post-Jonesboro, Ark., world, the state has re­quired all schools to enter into an agree­ment with local law enforcement officials that states we will inform [them] and re­spond in an agreed upon fashion for cer­tain offenses, which occur on school grounds or at school functions," the prin­cipal said.

The first part of the policy deals with education, according to Jackson, who said the district’s response to the problem is proactive education.

"We’ve had assemblies for all grade levels to impress upon the students that violence and bullying will not be toler­ated," he said.

Four Freehold Intermediate School teachers and two elementary school teachers will be trained in conflict reso­lution, according to the principal. These teachers will, in turn, educate teachers in their respective schools so that all faculty will be trained in conflict resolution.

Peer mediation is also on the horizon for Freehold Intermediate School stu­dents, according to Jackson.

The second part of the policy involves the school environment.

"At no time will children be unsuper­vised," Jackson said emphatically. "And my job as principal will be to ride herd over that plan."

He said that in the intermediate school this includes supervision at un­structured times like when students change classes and go to their lockers.

After Jackson’s presentation, Meara again addressed the large group of par­ents who lined the library of the Park Avenue Elementary School.

"We want you to know that we are well aware of the Kiawah (Avenue) situa­tion," he began, referring to problems that occurred during the 2002-03 school year as children walked home from school down Kiawah Avenue.

Meara said he met with Police Chief Michael Beierschmitt and DARE Officer Craig Dispenza and reported that they are working on plans to deal with any problems children may have on the way home from school.

"The children need to know what’s ac­ceptable behavior and what’s not," Meara said.

He said the administration and the police are establishing a presence on bor­ough streets at dismissal time, and noted that the children are aware of this now.

"We’re looking for any disruption of property and if children are obeying the regulations of the community," Meara said. "They know we are here now."

Jackson said more information about the issue of bullying will be sent home in his upcoming newsletter to intermediate school parents.