Bullying Prevention Month: Do You Have A Story In Cortlandt?

CORTLANDT, NY — National Bullying Prevention Month kicks off this October across the nation.

According to the National Bullying Prevention Center, every day, thousands of young people experience bullying from their peers while at school, after school in their neighborhoods, and even when they are at home, through social media and texts.

“There are many ways to support bullying prevention as an individual or with friends and family, and within your school or community,” the center states on its website. (Learn some here.)

The Hendrick Hudson school district wrote about bullying in its winter 2016 issue of Soundings, interviewing Lynn Rafalik, Executive Director of Pupil Personnel Services:

The term “bullying” gets a lot of attention these days, but what is it, exactly? According to Rafalik, bullying can take many forms, such as teasing, name-calling, physical abuse or online harassment. It can be among students or between a staff member and a student. An important distinction, Rafalik explained, is that the behavior needs to be repeated over time, be intentional and involve an imbalance of power to be considered bullying under the Dignity Act.
There are specific signs of distress that a student experiencing bullying may display, and parents and school staff alike need to be vigilant in remaining mindful of them. For example, the student may withdraw from his or her usual activities, as well as family and friends. Grades may slip. There may be difficulty eating or sleeping. “It takes a whole village to help counter bullying,” said Rafalik. “It’s not only counselors and support staff, but also teachers and parents who need to be tuned into our students’ emotional and social well-being.” This link includes a list of signs that a child may be experiencing bullying. “Whether an incident is founded or unfounded, we will investigate it,” said Rafalik.

PATCH SERIES: DEALING WITH BULLIES

As part of a national reporting project, Patch has been looking at society's roles and responsibilities in bullying.

Do you have a story to tell? Email us at bullies@patch.com, or share your views in the comments.

This article contains reporting from the Patch national desk.

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