BERLIN, Vt. -
It's an age old problem that doesn't have a concrete solution... bullying. But a group of educators and activists is trying to find the answer. They met today in the first of several meetings and while no one seems to be able to put a stop to the growing bullying problem in schools, this group sure has a lot of ideas.
The painful truth is children are taking their own lives, because they're bullied to their breaking points. So the harassment, hazing and bullying prevention council formed with an urgency to find solutions.
"If children don't feel safe, respected and comfortable in school that will be an impediment to learning," Armando Vilaseca, the Department of Education Commissioner said.
Ideas were tossed around the room, with the hope that they'll be implemented in schools. Right now, the council can only make suggestions. "It doesn't mean that things, ideas, recommendations that come from this committee can't be brought to legislators," Commissioner Vilaseca said.
The education advocates think schools need a better support system for victims of bullying -and the perpetrators. More ideas: increase supervision outside the classroom, involve parents in the conversation, and when physical or verbal abuse is reported, give teachers the tools to take action.
"I told the teacher and nothing happened, the teacher didn't do anything... we should not be hearing that at all," Henri Sparks said, from the Burlington School District.
After much discussion and prioritizing that list, the council wants to look further into training for everyone, student leadership and then also collecting data that they also put to use.
"We don't want this to be a nice document that gets put on the shelf," Vilaseca said.
Members of the council say the message of tolerance could be the first step in preventing bullying. "If you do not want this to happen to you, you also have to not do it," Saben Littlefield from Outright Vermont said.
A summary of this meeting will be written up and issued to every school in the state. There will be another meeting in October.
