Local public schools reporting fewer bullying incidents

Passed by the New York State Senate in 2010, the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) went into effect for the 2012-2013 school year. The law sought to protect students from bullying and discrimination, in part by requiring all teachers to take a six-hour training course to receive their license and by making schools report all bullying incidents.

The audit showed that 30 percent of public schools statewide didn’t report any incidents. In the Five Towns, Hewlett-Woodmere and Lawrence schools have seemingly complied with the legislation.

Incidents at Lawrence peaked during the first year of reporting, with 44 reported incidents in the 2012-2013 school year. The subsequent years have seen a significant drop, there were just 12 reported during the 2014-2014 year, 22 during 2014-2015 and just one during the 2015-2016 year.

Superintendent Dr. Ann Pedersen believes the improvement is due in large part to the social and emotional learning program the district uses. “Teachers are telling me that they’re students are coming in more socially competent,” she said.

Lawrence has worked to instill their students with values like empathy while they’re young, while also talking through any issues that arise. “Kids will still do kid things.” Pedersen said, “they need to know to go to an adult when someone makes them uncomfortable. These incidents often come from a place of impulsivity or jealousy [rather than malice].”

Hewlett-Woodmere has not had as dramatic a decline but their number of reported incidents has slid from 27 in 2012-2013 to 26, then 22 and 11 in successive years.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Mark Secaur can’t pinpoint a singular reason why reported incidents have declined, and like Pedersen attributes part of it to the school’s atmosphere of inclusion.

“We have worked very hard to foster an inclusive, tolerant school climate and believe that we are very successful in that regard,” Secaur said. “Incidents do happen, but we are mindful that each incident is also a learning opportunity for all involved.”

Technology has made it possible for students to be harassed by peers online in or out of school. DASA has required schools to report any cyberbullying since the 2013-2014 school year.

Since then Lawrence has had six incidents, three in first year of reporting and three more during the 2014-2015 year. Hewlett-Woodmere had 12 incidences of cyberbullying in 2013-2014, then four more in each of the next two years.

“Cyberbullying can happen on and off school grounds,” Secaur said. “Many students have access to the internet at all times. Cyberbullying incidents, regardless of point of origin, have the capacity to be disruptive to the educational environment.”

In addition to addressing harassment online, Hewlett-Woodmere has made their students more aware of the dangers of excessive screen time, including several showings of “Screenagers” a documentary about that subject.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and State Education Department Commissioner Mary Ellen Elia released a statement on Feb. 23, reminding school districts that although the federal Departments of Education and Justice rescinded federal legal protections for transgender students, New York districts still have an obligation to protect those students them under state law.

Jonathan Burman, a spokesman for the State Department of Education believes that this situation is where laws like DASA are needed most. “While the federal government has started to chip away at some of the protections afforded to students, we remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure that all children feel safe and supported when they are in New York’s schools,” he said.