Central schools consider strict bullying policy

• By CHANTE DIONNE WARREN
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Jul 5, 2009 - Page: 1b

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CENTRAL — School bullies may stand head and shoulders above their victims, but newer and more menacing threats are those who use text-messaging and e-mail to harass other students, said Central school system officials.

The Central School Board is scheduled to consider at its July 13 meeting a proposal spelling out grounds to expel students who commit serious acts of bullying. The board’s meeting will be at 6 p.m., 14025 Greenwell Springs Road.

Among such grounds would be the latest threat, cyber harassment, said Robert Williams, director of student services.

“Because of the changes in culture and students having more access to technology use, bullying has expanded beyond the old aspect of the physical bullying,” Williams said. “It has now become the mental aspect. With cell phones, students can write and e-mail one another with intimidating messages. This is going on nationwide.”

Central school officials say they have not dealt with any serious physical or cyber bullying problems to date, but they want to be a step ahead of any potential problems.

Cyber bullies are creating a stir in school districts throughout the United States, Williams said.

Reports of bullying in the form of “flame wars,” “cyber stalking,” and “outing and trickery,” are among the latest forms of intimidation and threats, he said.

A proposed student handbook policy would explain and define such terms for students in Central schools.

School Board President Sharon Browning said the proposed additions to the bullying policy are needed.

“I was an English teacher for 22 years and a guidance counselor for eight years at Central High School,” Browning said.

“We had bullying then and we worked hard to protect our kids and you knew who the bullies were,” she said. “Now, the bullies are hiding behind the computers harassing you in cyber space. Bullying tactics change.”

 Other area school systems have taken proactive steps. The East Baton Rouge Parish School system added new language to its student handbook policy in 2007-08 to include students who post harmful statements about other students or teachers on social networking sites such as MySpace. Such activities may result in suspension or worse.

About 30 percent, or more than 5.7 million young people, are estimated to be involved in bullying as either a bully or as a target or both, according to a 2008 survey by the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center.