Huron Expositor, 2006-05-31, Page 12t_�:..-...�... a. ese .r J.� ._.► ... ,...F-.... .r, .•.—...r.a•e:-..+r..« a..a...r..M. . ... 3.,...-v...�......:r.�...-.. -.... w....,.J °aq +.... i.,. .., ..
Page 12 May 31, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
•-• s
News
•
School boards review results of bullying survey
Stew Slater
A recent survey of 11,000 stu-
dents in two counties, between
Grades 6-12, has alerted adminis-
trators of the Avon Maitland and
Huron -Perth Catholic district school
boards that a significant percentage
of victims of bullying would seek
solace from a trusted member of
school staff, if only they believed
such a staff person existed.
It also - revealed that between 25-
30 per cent of students "have little
or no concern" about the bullying of
their peers, something Catholic
board superintendent Dan Parr
called "somewhat disconcerting."
And while Avon Maitland chair
Meg Westley was "reassured" to
learn that ethnic background and
perceived sexual orientation are not
often used as excuses for bullying in
Huron and Perth County schools,
she expressed dis-appointment the
survey , didn't seek out insight into
what other excuses bullies employ --
such as perceived athletic ability or
body type.
Overall, however, the results of
the survey, released last week,
inspired positive comments from
both school boards.
"My first reaction was just a sigh
of relief," explained Avon Maitland
vice chair Jenny Versteeg of North
Perth, at a news conference
Tuesday, May 23 at the shared
library of Stratford Northwestern
Secondary School and St. Michael
Catholic Secondary School.
"As a trustee, you get some calls
(about bullying) and you wonder
how much of a problem really is
this," Versteeg explained. "But
when you see the results from this
survey, you think, 'it's a good place
we live in'."
The survey ` was conducted over a
one-week time frame in February of
this year, with each school setting
aside one day to administer the
questionnaire to all eligible stu-
dents.
Over 80 per cent of students in
those grades were eventually sur-
veyed, with a roughly even split
between males and females.
June 6g8
inspection & Free Disposal
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Seaforth Co-operative Children's Centre
82 Chalk Street, Seaforth
Car seats over 10 years old • Bike or hockey helmets over 5 years old • Baby bath seats
Cribs made before 1986 • Accordion -style baby gates • Baby walkers with wheels
COME M
YOYB
Ali
Fneads 25 Tears
• AT TE EM FARM!
Home E f Distinctive Annuals!
A Wonderful Line of Premium Selected Plants
Even though June has arrived, we are still dedicated to
bringing you, our loyal, and new customers the quality and
selection you deserve for your gardens.
We have Gorgeous hanging baskets and wall bags,
premium quality geraniums, wave petunias in many
colours, perennials and Nursery stock, water plants
and much more!
SKIM AN DIM ON REN/ 111E BAY!
Now Ready - Asparagus and Rhubarb
Home of Ted's Tasty Tomatoes!
HOURS—
Mon-Fri 8-8
Sat. - Sun 9-6
RETAIL & WHOLESALE
4824020 77688 Orchard Line, R.R.1
For most of the approximately 80
responses, students were presented
with a statement and given three
options -- following either an
"agree/neither agree nor
disagree/disagree" pattern, or some-
thing similar.
Just over eight per cent of elemen-
tary students and 6.5 per cent of
secondary students don't feel safe at
school or on the way to and from
school.
"That's a small number but ... it's
still a concern to us," said Avon
Maitland system principal Mike
Ash.
"(Students) don't go to school to be
afraid. They go to school to learn.
And unfortunately, that's not always
the case," said Perth -Middlesex
MPP John Wilkinson, who attended
the news conference to reiterate a
recent provincial anti -bullying fund-
ing initiative, including $115,500 for
schools in his riding.
Ash noted the survey highlighted
a clear distinction between the trip
to school, when students are less
likely to feel threatened, and the
sometimes more fearful trip home.
"That speaks to something brew-
ing over the day and spilling out
after school finishes," the Avon
Maitland administrator said.
In general, however, "bullying
happens most often when there is
less structure and supervision."
Later on May 23, Ash told Avon
Maitland trustees at their regular
board meeting, "that's kind of a red
flag for us to look at how we struc-
ture supervision, and how we super-
vise our secondary schools."
Parr said administrators were
surprised at the glow prevalence of
so-called "cyberbullying," despite
the fact it's "an issue that educators
are paying a great deal of attention
to."
The Catholic board superinten-
dent suggested the low results
could be due to a lack ,of aware-
ness among students about exact-
ly what constitutes cyber -bullying
-- which generally involves using
the internet to harass, embarrass,
or spread misinformation.
Another "red flag," however, was
raised by questions about how stu-
dents would respond if they
became victims of bullying.
Over 60 per cent would talk to a
peer, but just over 40 per cent of ele-
mentary students and less than 30
per cent of secondary students
would approach a staff member at
the school. -
Ash's points were driven home at
the May 23 news conference by
newly -appointed St. Michael acting
vice principal Chris Grace, the six-
foot -eight -inch son of a teaching
family who grew up the victim of
bullies in the Thunder Bay Catholic
system.
"I always stood out in the crowd,
and maybe that's part of the reason
for being bullied by certain groups,"
he told reporters after the news con-
ference. "I did have friends who
stuck up for me, but when the (bul-
lying) group got so big, they
wouldn't hang around."
Until recently a guidance counsel-
lor at St. Anne's Catholic high
school in Clinton, and now in his St.
Michael posting, Grace strives to
establish a "level of confidence with
kids" by relating his own experi-
ences. "Maybe they don't believe me
(about being bullied) but gradually
kids get to know that's where I'm
coming from."
In the survey, questions about a
series of possible anti -bullying pro-
grams met generally with lukewarm
response --. perhaps pointing to a
level of resignation that the problem
will always be present.
But the most popular among
those possible programs (ahead of
security cameras, which have actu-
ally been proven ineffective in
recent -research)-were increased
staff supervision and "having a
trusted staff member to contact."
Grace agreed that must be a pri-
ority. But it will take much effort.
"Trying to develop the level of
comfort where students will
approach someone of authority in
the school is really what's going to
have a lasting effect.
And that's not easy," he said.
"Because with teenagers, their peer
group is so important when it comes
to dealing with this stuff.
"The whole idea of respect needs
to be embedded in our schools. And
that's a culture thing."
Ilderton man charged after crash
A 52 -year-old Ilderton man was
charged with impaired driving after
a single vehicle crash on May 24 at
approximately 3 p.m. on Bell's Line
north of Kippen.
Huron OPP found a 2000 GMC
Sierra located in the west ditch and
the driver was lying down at the
rear of the vehicle.
The driver, who displayed signs of
impairment, was taken to the
Huron Detachment for breath sam-
ples, which showed three times the
legal limit of 80 mg of alcohol.
The man was charged with one
count of impaired operation of a
motor vehicle, one count of driving a
motor vehicle with more than 80 mg
of alcohol and one count of failing to
comply with undertaking.
1