Beaumont Unified Combats Bullying, Hosts Parent Awareness Class

BEAUMONT, CA — October is National Bullying Prevention Month, meant to bring attention to the bullying problem and involve people nationwide in a conversation on how to create a world safe from bullying.

The Beaumont Unified School District has a firm policy against bullying in the school code and several schools were planning activities throughout the month and year to address bullying, according to BUSD Communications Officer Francinni Zabata.

"The Board of Trustees recognizes that harmful effects of bullying on student learning and school attendance and desires to provide a safe school environment that protects students from physical and emotional harm," the district's policy states in part. "No individual or group shall, through physical, written, verbal, or other means, harass, sexually harass, threaten, intimidate, retaliate, cyberbully, cause bodily injury to, or commit hate violence against any student or school personnel."

District officials encourage parents and students to download the STOPit! smartphone application which is "an online reporting tool designed to deter and mitigate bullying and cyber abuse." They also promote the ReThink app, which is designed to get youth to think twice before posting offensive content.

What's more, Zabata says the district is working to increase parent awareness to bullying. A "bullying prevention class" is set for Thursday, Oct. 17 at the Beaumont Unified School District offices, located at 350 W. Brookside Avenue. You can RSVP here.

For more information on programs within the Beaumont Unified School District, visit the school district's website.

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.

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