Taking a Stand Against Bullying

Comprehensive new bullying legislation went into effect for Connecticut in July and Trumbull High School students are learning.

The law — an Act Concerning the Strengthening of School Bullying laws —attempts to ensure that Connecticut’s public school children can learn without fear or intimidation. With the new anti-bullying law, students need to be extra careful about what they post on popular social websites such as Facebook and Formspring. 

The definition of bullying has now been amended to include cyber-bullying: any act of bullying through the Internet, cell phones, or other electronic devices or any other electronic communications in or outside of the school building and the school day.

is addressing the new bullying law through a multitude of programs. Andrew Vojt, a senior at THS, is the co-editor and chief of the school newspaper. He is making sure to include information about bullying in the upcoming newspaper so other students can learn about it. 

Vojt recognizes the benefits of addressing bullying in a timely manner.

“I think that if there is a definite plan of action to bring justice to the bullies and protect the victims, then it will make a big difference in the school,” he said.

The U.S. Department of Education reported that in the 2008–09 school year 28 percent of students age 12-18 were bullied at school. Cyber-bullying was also evident. In the same school year, six percent of students reported they were cyber-bullied in or out of school through electronic media.

Noah Levy, a junior at Trumbull High School tries to avoid situations that might lead to bullying, but recognizes the potential for it in a school environment.

“I tend to avoid confrontational situations, but I know bullying happens,” Levy said.  “Hopefully these laws will serve as a reminder to people who want to start something that it will end badly for them.”

Peer Leaders at THS are going further to help end bullying. Last spring William Mecca, a co-advisor to peer leaders and Intervention Specialist, saw an article about a cyber ally training program by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and contacted them to see if they could bring the same program to Trumbull.

The ADL training was held at THS on Sept. 20. During the program, student leaders learned the importance of moving from being a bystander and watching bullying happen to becoming an ally for the person being bullied. 

Mecca noted that the benefits of partnering with ADL goes beyond training. “In partnering with the ADL, we learned that we are eligible for a grant to deliver an assembly known as the 'The Truth About Hate,'” Mecca stated. “It could help us reach more students and would utilize the Peer Leaders in bringing the anti-bullying prevention message to at least half the school population.”  

Peer Leaders are prepared to deliver their bullying prevention message in a variety of formats such as classrooms and assemblies and to multiple populations including middle school students, parents, and teachers.

This is important in that according to the Connecticut School Health Survey, bullying can lead to a variety of negative consequences including sleeplessness, missing school, depression, and even attempted suicide.