Schools reach out to victims of bullying

Calexico families rallied against bullying at a local school and school board meeting recently.

Calexico resident Susy Pena said, “We’re here to stop bullying. And I’m doing this because they’re bullying three of my daughters.”

Another local mother, Maricela Magana, spoke out during a Calexico school board meeting.

“Enough is enough. I send my kids to get educated, not to be bullied. The staff should be here to help us out,” Magana said.

Imperial County Office of Education Program Director Miriam Belopolsky said bullying is not just a local problem – it’s a nationwide problem.

“It’s here. It’s everywhere. Bullying has always been an issue. This is nothing new. Is it serious? Yes. It’s serious. By definition, if you pass a certain threshold, it is a crime. Bullying is a crime.”

She said over 32 percent of local students reported being bullied resulting in physical or emotional injury during a recent survey.

“It’s a pattern of deliberate negative, hurtful, aggressive acts that – and here’s the key – that work to shift the balance of physical, emotional or social power.”

Dr. Liliann Patterson with the Westmorland School District said bullying is a problem that leaves emotional scars.

“You might forget what people say to you. You can forget did to you. But it will be hard to forget how people made you feel,” Patterson said.

And to make it worse, some victims continue being victims.

ICOE Program Specialist Zugeily Estrada said, “What I see is that the victim in themselves has not been able to get out of it, of that state, so they continue to walk around school as a target. The easy aspect of a bully to find.”

Belopolsky said schools are taking an active role in fighting bullying by implementing programs to stop it and help victims.

“That targets students who are victims of bullying and or school violence in grades fourth grade through eighth grade regionally, so, countywide. We’re pleased to say we’re in eight school districts,” Belopolsky explained.

She said their program is in 24 local schools in which 300 who have reported being bullied are getting help.

“We have to make appropriate referrals for counseling or therapy because the service is not therapeutic per se. It is advocacy,” Belopolsky said.

Their program also helps schools understand legal definitions and policies on bullying.

“If they need any assistance on refining their board policies, I’m able to provide that assistance. But I’m also have been able to secure funding to bring down experts in the field of bullying and school violence,” Belopolsky said.

She said this gives students and schools the necessary tools to reduce environments that allow bullying to happen.

Estrada added that they teach conflict resolution, optimism or resilience as part of conflict resolution skills building.

Dr. Patterson said at the Westmorland Elementary School, they use activities that help students understand different ways on how to deal with bullying.

“The students are given a scenario and they have to use their problem-solving skills to find the best way to stop the bullying,” Patterson said.

Belopolsky said reporting bullying, no matter how small, is part of the answer.

“All incidents of behavior or bullying or whatever is being reported, all incidents of student behavior need to be taken seriously. Absolutely!” Patterson stressed.

More information in our newscast.