Bullying: How Flossmoor School District 161 Tackles The Issue

FLOSSMOOR, IL — As part of its coverage for National Bullying Prevention Month, Patch reached out to school districts across the Chicago suburbs to see how they handle bullying in their communities. Across the country, bullying is a problem that affects more than one in five students. And while some boil it down to the idea that "kids will be kids," studies show that students who are bullied are at increased risk for anxiety, depression, poor self-image, mental health and behavior problems and poor school adjustment.

In Flossmoor School District 161, bullying is addressed on the school website. There's a phone number, 708-647-7031, to report an incident of bullying to the school. All schools in the district have this number listed on the website. Also, the Serena Hills Elementary School Principal links to article '8 Effective Ways To Bully-proof Your Child' on her homepage.

Patch also reached out to a district official with a number of questions about bullying. While there was no official response to the specific questions, the above listed ways are at least a few of the ways the district tackles the issue.

The Menace Of Bullies: Patch Advocacy Reporting Project

As part of a national reporting project, Patch has been looking at society's roles and responsibilities in bullying and a child's unthinkable decision to end their own life in hopes we might offer solutions that save lives.

Do you have a story to tell? Are you concerned about how your local schools handle bullies and their victims?

Email us at bullies@patch.com and share your views in the comments.

Selected Stories From The Project