Testimony on bullying in our schools

Good afternoon Chairman Jackson and distinguished members of the Education Committee. My name is Sterling Roberson and I am the UFT’s Vice President for Career and Technical High Schools. Bullying is a critical topic of discussion, and I want to thank you for making it the centerpiece of today’s hearing.

I also want to thank the council, and particularly Speaker Quinn and Chairman Jackson, for their work on the “Respect for All” campaign, which teaches school children about tolerance and respect of others and themselves. The UFT is working with our chapter leaders to make sure that the resources and training mandated by the “Respect for All” initiative are in place in every school.

Chances are, almost everyone in this room can remember an instance during their childhood when they were bullied by another kid, or even an adult. Being pushed around, verbally or physically, can be very traumatic to anyone, particularly a child. You never forget that feeling of helplessness. Bullying is not limited to kids in junior high or high school — it is a problem in elementary schools as well.

As you can imagine, being bullied has a profound effect on a child. Anxiety and low self esteem. Depression and suicidal thoughts. Anti-social behaviors. Risk-taking. It affects their ability to learn, their home life and their ability to make friends. The effects can last for many years, even years after the bullying has stopped. We’ve all seen the tragic headlines.

Students need to know bullying of any kind is not OK and will not be tolerated. Schools must be safe havens where students are comfortable to be themselves and can concentrate on learning. The UFT believes school safety is a fundamental right and providing a safe learning environment is a fundamental obligation. “Respect for All” should be part of every student’s education, and the way to do that is to make it part of the mandated curriculum that all students use.

Beyond “Respect for All”, there are a number of additional strategies that we should take a look at, starting with parent engagement. Parents want to get involved and make a difference, and we need to provide opportunities for them to do so.

For example, this spring, the UFT sponsored at parents’ request a special anti-bullying program for the PS 6 school community on Staten Island. During the eight-week program, students met twice a week to talk candidly about bullying and learn strategies to combat bullying problems in their school. They also participated in exercises to build confidence and self-esteem. Parents also got a full day of classes on strategies such as conflict resolution, and teachers and staff received professional development after school. Just a few weeks ago at a meeting to wrap up the program, nearly two hundred parents took part in the discussion, which stretched long into the night. It was a powerful and well-received program that we believe should be replicated all across the city.

Simply instituting anti-bullying policies is not enough, and neither is concentrating on post-bullying enforcement. In fact, we all have a part to play in preventing bullying from happening. There are known strategies for reducing bullying, and programs in place to help educators help keep kids safe, and it is a priority for us to make sure that schools have those resources at their disposal at all times.

What’s more, there are some concrete things that each and every one of us can do to help starting right now, by being visible allies for students who are being bullied or harassed. Too often, youths are isolated and think that they have nowhere to turn. Making sure they know they have someone to turn to is critical. And students must know that when they come to an adult in their school with a bullying issue, that help will be more than a pat on the head and being told it’s all right. It is also important that we not let hateful remarks or bullying go without responding.

Ensuring that schools have resources at their disposal is also key. We’re not talking about this issue in a vacuum. Our schools face layoffs and budget cuts, but I can tell you that previous cutbacks and the heavy attrition we have already seen has taken a toll on anti-bullying resources. Programs that focus on peer mediation, gang prevention, substance abuse, conflict resolution and esteem building have all been cut back. There are also fewer key personnel on hand to turn to, such as social workers, guidance counselors, school psychologists, clinicians and attendance teachers, who work with at-risk kids. Layoffs and more cutbacks will obviously make the situation that much worse.

Let me also say a few words about City Council Resolutions 473 and 474, which endorse the federal Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Nondiscrimination Act. I want to commend the Council for their support on these two measures. We endorse them on a national level, and we are working hard to help get them passed.

Combating bullying is going to take a comprehensive strategy that involves all of these efforts and more. Remember: Today’s bullies have a lot more tools at their disposal than just threatening someone with their fists. The laptops and cell phones that kids carry these days give them all the tools they need to spread rumors or terrorize a classmate at lightning speed. Within seconds, an entire school population can be tuned into someone’s rants and rumors, view someone’s inappropriate photos or know when and where a fight will take place.

Regardless of the medium, be it the Internet or the hallway, bullying can take many shapes and forms, including teasing, rumors, intimidation and physical violence. Kids are targeted for their religion, their race or ethnicity, their sexual orientation, their weight, their disability, their clothes and even how they perform in class. Children are also being pressured to join gangs, and many times join to prevent being beaten up — It happens not just in high schools, but junior high and elementary school as well.

One child being bullied is one too many. The UFT has dedicated safety and health staff in every borough and throughout school communities citywide, and we work closely with our colleagues at the DOE, NYPD and Local 237 to provide a safe learning and working environment for all students, faculty and staff. We look forward to working with the Council and other partners to expand and enhance anti-bullying efforts in our schools.