Stopping School Bullying Could Make Communities Safer
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July 22, 2010
CHARLESTON, W.V. - Police and victims advocates say low-level violence such as school bullying is connected to serious problems like domestic violence. But, they say one good way to help everyone to feel safer is to ensure victims are not left isolated.
Tonya Barnett works on school bullying for southwest West Virginia non-profit Step-by-Step. She says 60 percent of school bullies end up having a serious criminal conviction by age 21.
"If it doesn't get solved, it continues to grow. It will grow into domestic violence or into child abuse, vandalism, your dropout rate. It's just a stepping-stone that leads into other problems."
Barnett says communities tend to accept a culture of violence, but that can be changed when bystanders help the victims.
A Greenbrier County sheriff's deputy says she's seen a change when students feel they can tell someone about problems. Sgt. Doris Vandal says she arrested a man two years ago for domestic violence based on what a student told her, and students often talk to her about issues at the school where she's assigned.
"I think I'm the safe place. The students come to me, not only while I'm at work, but they know where I live so they come knocking on my door or see me in the store, or their parents see me in a store. I'm very accessible."
Like a lot of states, West Virginia has done a lot in the last few years to provide more services for victims of crimes. Rick Thompson, Speaker of the House of Delegates, says that's worth the effort and says he'd like to see it continue.
"I know we've got a tight budget, but we will do every thing we can within our power to try to keep this program operational."
Bullying is one of the issues at the Victim Assistance Academy meeting this week at West Virginia State University and concluding Friday.