Does Bullying Exist at Ell-Saline?

Educational Efforts Aim to Reduce Bullying Incidents

The Ell-Saline high school and middle school student body and staff completed a bullying questionnaire early in fall 2008 in order to establish a baseline for educational efforts. The survey results indicate we have work to complete to create the bully free environment we want at our school. About fifty percent of students felt it is okay to bully students they do not like. Forty-four percent of students are picked on and the same percentage said teachers did little or nothing about bullies. Twenty percent of students had things taken or damaged while seventeen percent of students admit they are bullies. Twelve percent of girls report they have received comments about their race or been called mean names. Around ten percent of students dislike school and admit they do not have good friends.
The questionnaire results led to bully prevention educational sessions each Wednesday throughout the spring semester. Randy J. Wiler, the Ell-Saline bully prevention advisor said, “It may take a village to raise a child. . . but a child who bullies can raze the village!” A few training topics have included basic definitions, school rules, types of bullying, mitigation techniques, distinguishing between horseplay/fighting or tattling/reporting behaviors, and a continuum of violence.
The staff has emphasized the importance of reporting incidents to both an adult at school and at home. Students have the opportunity to drop an anonymous note for the school administrator in a publicly accessible, locked mailbox. Students were encouraged to support the victim and to use the Kansas School Violence hotline (1.877.626.8203) as needed. The Salina Central Dispatch of the Kansas Highway Patrol notifies appropriate local law enforcement agencies and the school superintendent to respond to hotline calls.
The continued success of Ell-Saline schools remains in the balance since bully prevention is basically a question of human rights. The ultimate goal is a healthy and safe learning environment where everyone belongs and everyone keeps their focus on education tasks.