Schools

The Menace Of Bullying: What District 300 Parents Are Saying

A Patch survey shows broad concern about the extent of bullying in schools and frustration that school policies don't fully address it.

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ALGONQUIN, IL — An informal survey of Patch readers whose children attend schools in Community Unit School District 300 included personal details of bullying incidents among their children. According to the survey's results, all responding parents said their children have experienced bullying or cyber bullying at some point, while nearly all responding parents said their child has been bullied this school year. When asked how many other students have bullied their child, 75 percent of parents specifying District 300 said two or more students have done the bullying, and the bullying includes being teased or called names. In addition, 50 percent said they're child has been been bullied by phone. This doesn't include additional forms of bullying some of the parents said their child has experienced.

When asked what impact they think bullying has had on students in their child's district, these District 300 parents mentioned more than just students at the center of the bullying incidents. In fact, 50 percent of District 300 parents surveyed said they're child had been bullied by a teacher or staff member at their school.

When asked what kind of bullying prevention parents have seen in their child's school district, a parent mentioned a seminar they "have annually," and added that this prevention practice needs to apply to the teachers as well.

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Another parent suggested better training for staff and better education for both students and staff, including training on developmental disorders, including Autism, as their child was bullied all through elementary and high school.

Furthermore, 75 percent of District 300 parents who responded to the survey provided an unspecific answer, including "none" when asked what kind of bullying prevention they've seen in their child's school district.

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The responding District 300 parents did, however, differ in their responses (and opinions) when asked what they think of the district's bullying/discipline policies.

One parent described the district's consequences as "Not strong enough " or not enforced, and suggested the district "Follow through with consequences," and if that doesn't stop the student, then "Expel them."

While several parents said the bullying negatively effects the victim, one parent elaborated further and said their child "withdraws from conversation with others" that may otherwise produce a friendship. This same parent described her son's experience of being bullied by students and "even the teachers" at a local high school. The parent also claims the staff's response was to move their child to a different classroom, in addition to their son having to defend himself from "unfair" discipline, or call his parent(s).

One parent even admitted to "holding back on following through" on an incident involving her daughter during a previous school year. The parent said they are holding back due to making sure the district doesn't "take retribution" on another family member, and also notes texts and emails that could be damaging against a staff member. However, the parent added it's "hard to do anything about it" when the administrators "circle the wagons" to protect the offending teachers.

Only one of the responding District 300 parents answered "nothing" when asked "What, if anything, do you think the district could do to better address bullying?" That same parent added, "They do a good job. Sometimes, the child has to figure it out themselves at some point."

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The regional parent survey, timed to coincide with National Bullying Prevention Month in October, was posted on dozens of Patch sites in Illinois and in the Midwest. The survey is not scientific, but could be considered a broad indicator of parents' feelings about the seriousness of bullying in their schools and communities.

>> Take the Patch bullying survey

As of Friday, Oct. 18, more than 460 parents responded to this regional Patch survey. The key findings were:

  • Nearly 71 percent of parents said their children had been bullied at least once.
  • Nearly 65 percent had been bullied this school year.

These informal findings should be compared to statistics compiled in more scientific surveys, which note that:

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

From No Bully, Patch News Partner

From The Experts

What We've Learned

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