3rd Annual Anti-Bullying Conference: A Community Collaboration
Thursday, February 26, 2015
“The 'constant vigilance ' of bullying happening in our schools for educators to pay attention to makes Conferences like today extremely important.The professionals in attendance today that represented law enforcement,education, juvenile justice, and human service agencies showed a "community collaboration' in combating bullying in our schools and community,” said Pezzella.
According to Pezzella, the Worcester Public Schools takes bullying serious everyday regardless of the numbers being reported for acts of bullying because of the silent torment victims go through by not subsequently asking for help until in some cases it ends up in harm or tragedy .”That is why Conferences like this one also continue to reinforce to attendees you are in the 'front lines' of intervening and support targets of bullying,” said Pezzella.
The conference was a day long event that included workshops, presentations, and group sessions. Other keynote addresses and remarks were made by Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early, Dr. Elizabeth Folcarelli, President and CEO of Y.O.U.,Inc., and Carol Erskine, First Justice of the Worcester County Juvenile Court.
“There’s still adults who don’t get it. They don’t see the pain. They don’t understand,” said Beane. “Because we see the pain, we have the responsibility to show these kids what happens. Never underestimate little strategies. You should for a program that is flexible. In every school there’s something different somehow. There should be something flexible there to do what you need to do at your school.”
“If you respond in a violent way, you will lose again. You will be punished. If you tell a child to stand up for themselves, you run that risk of punishment. When you ask kids to work it out, the aggression gets stronger, the victim gets weaker because you re-victimize the victim,” said Dr. Beane.
When Curtis was 15, he was in a terrible car accident that left him with only three fingers on one hand. When he returned to school, kids called him “The Penguin” and “Pizza Hand.” His girlfriend broke up with him. Curtis didn’t tell Dr. Beane how much he was being bullied at school. Curtis became depressed and began taking METH to cope with it. Unfortunately, Curtis and his parents did not know that he had a heart issue. When Curtis took METH it killed him. He had his car keys in his hand and was probably trying to go for help.
“Drugs killed my son,” said Dr. Beane. “But he was already dead on the inside because of how poorly people treated him.”
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