ROWLEY — The Pine Grove School is taking steps to make sure its hallways, classrooms and playground are bully-free zones by having frank discussions with students about bullying and harassment. This was done last week during the school's community gathering meetings.
Principal Christine Kneeland and Assistant Principal Margot Lacey addressed groups of first- and second-graders and fourth- through sixth-graders on Thursday at the community gathering. These gatherings are the way in which the school regularly comes together to address certain issues or discuss a particular topic. Third-graders were on a field trip and will be addressed Thursday.
The theme of the meetings focuses on attitude, respect, responsibility and appropriate school conduct, and at this meeting, a primary emphasis on bullying and harassment. Students were also reminded of the school's three Rs: respect yourself, respect others and take responsibility for your actions. Parents were invited to join in the meetings.
"Bullying and harassment is something we do not tolerate here at the Pine Grove School," said Kneeland, who went on to explain to the students via a PowerPoint presentation exactly what bullying was. "Whether you are in the classroom, in the hall, on the playground or on the bus, if you think the situation isn't right, you need to enlist help from an adult," Kneeland told the students.
Students were told the difference between the physical, social, verbal and cyber aspects of bullying and what to do if they are being bullied. During a skit where Kneeland and Lacey acted out a bullying incident, the distinction between tattling and reporting in reference to bullying was described. Tattling, as was explained, is when one tells on someone to get them in trouble, while reporting was explained as telling the truth to try to help someone.
Students in the younger grades spoke up to ask about incidences to see if they were considered bullying, while the older grade-level students remained very quiet and serious, listening intently.
"I think many of the students in the upper grades had an 'aha' moment when listening to the presentation, particularly the cyber bullying section," Lacey said. "Certain discussions around cyber bullying raised eyebrows, particularly those noting that there were penalties for bullying at the school."
Both Kneeland and Lacey said that there have been issues with bullying at the school, particularly in the higher-level grades with cyber bullying, but that they believe the clear message of this meeting — that Pine Grove School is a bully-free zone and that it won't be tolerated — was heard and absorbed by the student body.
Each student will sign a promise, which will include their signature and be posted on the walls of the cafeteria, that reads, "I promise I will never be a bully who picks on others. I will treat my friends and classmates with respect and speak up for them if they are being bullied."
At the next community gathering meeting at the end of April, students will hear more on bullying and harassment from the standpoint of being a bystander to a bullying situation. Illustrations and direction on how to react and help out in this scenario will be discussed.
