Local Schools Tackle Bullying During Awareness Week

Local schools throughout Anne Arundel County implemented special initiative this last week in honor of Maryland’s Bullying Awareness Week, ranging from specific announcements in school to special guest speakers.

For many Severn teenagers at Old Mill High School, the students heard unique daily announcements that defined bullying and discussed what immediate actions should be taken if witnessed.

“Unfortunately, because we have had make-up High School Assesments, senior finals, and AP tests, which limit the use of announcements or other more out of the box activities, we have remained with quiet, less disruptive ones,” said Old Mill principal, Sheila Hill, in an email to Patch.

In addition to the announcements, students partook in a special “cyber bullying” activity to help increase awareness of this new style of bullying, said Hill.

The Old Mill principal told Patch that on Friday, children were broken up into groups and worked together to identify ways to handle cyber bullying, how to prevent it and what to do if you become a victim. 

Elsewhere in the County on Wednesday morning, sixth grade students filled the Central Middle School auditorium to celebrate an initiative in their own school that was developed and implemented by eighth graders. The BAC, or Bully Awareness Crew, has only been around since the beginning of this school year, but already administrators, teachers and students at the Edgewater school feel that the effort is making a difference.

Joining them in the celebration was Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who is visiting schools around the state to highlight anti-bullying efforts. This week is Bullying Awareness Week in Maryland, founded last year by First Lady Katie O'Malley.

Brown gave brief remarks at the beginning of the program and then settled in for the student-run assembly. First, students sang original songs, then gave testimonials of their own bullying experiences—as both tormentors and victims. One student, Hunter Koester, created video Public Service Announcements, or PSAs, about bullying through Facebook and texting.

Brown also took questions from the audience including personal questions about his life and experience with bullying. Some asked how much longer he'll serve as lieutenant governor (three years), how he came to be in his job (undergrad at Harvard, stint in the Army, Harvard Law, tour in Iraq, state delegate) and what his favorite color is (blue).

Brown said that a task force at the state level is working on implementing a variety of anti-bullying initiatives and school "best practices" to combat bullying.