When Murray County High School junior Tyler Long committed suicide last month, Mary Smith received a call for advice from a social worker at the school.
Smith, a social worker with the Dalton-based Family Support Council, is involved in suicide prevention programs as well as programs that address bullying in the schools. She said the social worker contacted her for support.
Long hanged himself in his bedroom on Oct. 17, but the 17-year-old’s parents say the sense of helplessness that led him to end his life originated when he began being bullied in middle school. David and Tina Long say teachers and administrators often told them that the accused bully “didn’t mean it that way” when they complained, or told them that they couldn’t address the problem without the bully’s name. Tyler had Asperger’s syndrome, a mild form of autism, and was often unable to identify his attackers by name, his parents said.
Smith didn’t comment on Long’s situation, but she did say it’s imperative for adults to listen and take it seriously when children are being bullied.
“If a child says, ‘I was just kidding,’ it’s not kidding,” Smith said. “This is not kidding. It’s not a joke. It hurts somebody else.”
Smith said the Family Support Council performs a Kids on the Block puppet show to educate children about bullying. The program used to be performed at MCHS, she said, but the council hasn’t been asked to do it in several years.
Cinder Sims-Verheyen, a social worker assigned to several Whitfield County Schools, said bullying is “pretty widespread” among children. Dealing with it can be complicated for teachers and administrators, she said.
“The kids don’t always tell us, and that’s really hard because bullying can be very discreet and subtle, and we don’t always see it,” she said. “... I think in all cases of bullying, if we know that it’s going on, the administration can tell the staff, ‘We need to be on top of this. We need to watch this.’”
Sims-Verheyen said school officials this fall have been discussing bringing in a trainer for research-based bullying prevention programs.
“I think the most important thing is that for every school, everyone needs to be educated about this and be on the same page as far as how we are going to address this as a school,” she said.
Dalton resident Helen McIntosh, author of several books and articles on dealing with violence, said people should understand there’s more to bullying than pushing, shoving and hitting. Teasing, taunting and eye-rolling are often even more devastating, she said.
“The state laws make it sound like it’s just the physical ... that that’s the extent of bullying,” she said. “So many people and legislators think it’s the big things.”
McIntosh worked for 17 years in the Dalton Public Schools system, 12 as a counselor at Roan Elementary School. Through one of her books, “Eric, Jose and The Peace Rug,” McIntosh advocates children solving bullying problems by approaching the bully in a non-confrontational manner and asking to speak with the person without placing blame.
“I have never seen (the bully refuse to talk) in all my years of counseling,” she said. “The bully is a bully because he’s gotten picked on ... The bully was once a victim of bullying himself or herself and (it) didn’t get resolved, and so (he or she) started being the ultimate bully themselves. So the bully is always wanting a relationship.”
McIntosh said several of her former students have told her the technique worked well for them as they grew into their teens, and it made them feel more empowered because they didn’t need an adult to resolve the conflict for them.
Education
Part II: Professionals on bullying
- Education
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Dalton schools budget draws almost $2 million from reserves
Dalton School Superintendent Jim Hawkins, left, speaks as board of education members Danny Crutchfield and Rick Fromm listen during a six-hour board meeting retreat. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
Dalton Public Schools Superintendent Jim Hawkins said he’s no longer expecting a big economic bounce back to solve the school system’s budget concerns.
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Northwest students place high, take tech to next level
Several Northwest Whitfield High School students placed high in the Sequoyah Regional Georgia Educational Technology Fair.
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Dalton student on GPS May Court
Christian Bryant of Dalton has been elected to the May Court at Girls Preparatory School and will serve as crown bearer to the May Queen during the May Day festivities in April.
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Northwest Whitfield High School Sweetheart Court
Northwest Whitfield High School's Tip Off Club hosted the 2012 Sweetheart Dance at the school recently.
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Art student’s work on exhibition
Gary Sanchez Soto will represent Murray County High School in “An Artistic Discovery: The Congressional Art Competition” at the Derrell C. Roberts Library on the campus of Dalton State College.
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Professor to speak on the Oscars during 'Lunch & Learn' program
Jonathan Lampley, assistant professor of English at Dalton State, will present “The Oscars: Winners, Losers, and Weird Moments” in the College’s James E. Brown Center, room 105, on Feb. 15 from noon to 1 p.m.
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Local high schools recognized for AP classes, exams
State School Superintendent John Barge named several local high schools as Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools.
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The Perfect Polish
Cosmetology and Skills U.S.A. at North Murray High School recently sponsored a community service project in which Donna Blankenship’s students gave manicures to the residents of the Murray County Senior Center.
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MCHS accepts letterman's jacket
James “William” Butler’s family presented his letterman’s jacket to Murray County High School Principal Gina Linder during halftime of a varsity boys’ basketball game recently. The jacket, which has a “1962 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP” patch on it, will be displayed in the school’s trophy case. Presenting the jacket to Linder were Butler’s nieces, Chloe Brown and Ashley Strong; his wife, Patsy Butler; his daughter, Robin Baggett; and his grandchildren, Jaden and Janna Baggett.
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Mountain Creek Academy honors December teacher of the month
English teacher Jennifer Weninger (center) was selected by her peers as December’s Teacher of the Month at Mountain Creek Academy. Principal Paula Martin (right) and Curriculum Instructor Facilitator/Counselor Jennifer Lents presented her with the award.
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Mountain Creek Academy honors December staff of the month
Mountain Creek Academy Lisa Sanford, center, accepts a certificate from Principal Paula Martin and Counselor Jennifer Lents (left) as she is recognized with a December Staff of the Month award. Sanford has worked at Mountain Creek for 12 years.
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Med students visit Murray High
In December, students from Murray County High School and North Murray High School were invited to meet with fourth-year medical students Allen Ligon of Augusta and Heath Petty, an MCHS graduate.
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Gladden honors December student of the month
Joey Ecklebarger is the December 2011 Gladden Middle School Student of the Month. Joey is motivated and puts forth great effort in all classes. His behavior and attitude towards school, other students and teachers is also outstanding. Sean Hammond, Joey’s social studies teacher says of Joey, “He is great to have on our team.”
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Coker honors students for Week 14 good behavior
As part of Coker Elementary School’s PBIS or Positive Behavioral and Interventions Support system, students that follow the school expectations are recognized each week for their Great Behavior.
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Gladden students use Facebook in lessons
Gladden Middle School eighth-grader Shaley Stafford shows her Facebook page model on the book “Alice in Wonderland.” Eighth grade reading teacher Keith Rollins had his students choose a book from the library to do a book report on. However, this was not an ordinary book report. After the students read their book, they were to do their report by making a Facebook page about their book.
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