Karen Glenn, left, and Dr. Greg Martin
photo by Dennis Norwood
In light of the Ooltewah High rape case, many parents spoke out at Thursday night’s forum on their children’s traumatic experiences with bullying. Child advocates voiced their concerns about school policies, as well as their hopes to take this terrible situation and turn the Hamilton County School system into the best in the nation.
The School Board’s regular meeting, which took place directly before the public forum, went over current ways teachers are trained for bullying prevention and how this procedure could be modified and strengthened.
Karen Glenn, director of Students Taking A Right Stand (STARS), presented her work with the nationally adopted Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. Ms. Glen said she uses Olweus, which is “very school-specific,” to train Hamilton County teachers on detecting bullying in their particular environment.
The way it works is she and her eight-person staff survey students on their campuses. Then they take the results and spend one to two days thoroughly training a chosen leadership team per school, bearing in mind the results from the team’s specific school. After the training it is up to the leaders to spread awareness and implement tactics on bullying prevention to the rest of the administration in their school.
Every school in Hamilton County must be trained on bullying, but it is not required that every school go through Olweus, Ms. Glenn said.
The data for the Olweus program is collected annually and includes comments from students on victimization.
School Board Member and Chairman of the Policy Committee Dr. Greg Martin said he would like to see schools survey students more frequently than once a year.
School Board Member Rhonda Thurman inquired as to who exactly had to be trained in detecting bullying. It was stated employees who work during the school day must be trained. However, employees who come in after the school day, like some coaches, do not have to be trained.
However, everyone who works with the school system must at least sign an annual acknowledgement about child abuse.
Furthermore, by law all school employees must report anything they see or hear regarding child abuse.
“It’s not our job to investigate. It’s our job to report,” School Board Member David Testerman said.
Adding to this, Dr. Martin said, “It’s not sufficient for a teacher to report (child abuse) to a principal.”
Rather, if child abuse is suspected, by law it must be reported to either the Department of Children’s Services, the sheriff of the county where the child resides, the police chief of the municipality where the child resides, or to the juvenile court judge with jurisdiction over the child.
“If you’re an adult, you are a mandated reporter, and you’re obligated to report (child abuse and child sexual assault).” School Board Member Karitsa Mosley said.
To better report bullying, the Department of Education implemented an anonymous reporting system that went live Wednesday night on all Hamilton County School websites. It is an online form where students can submit anonymous tips to principals and school directors on bullying and other applicable topics.
The anonymous tip system serves as a step in what will be a lengthy process to change up to 13 school policies to better define bullying, hazing, and intimidation.
“As we work through this process we will strengthen all of our policies,” Supt. Rick Smith said.
“We’re just scratching the surface,” said Dr. Martin.