CARDINAL CORNER: ALEX GEORDAN

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Bullying is not a normal rite of passage. It can have serious consequences. We all can help children learn how to prevent bullying.

I am not creating this column with a concern of major issues of bullying throughout our hallways, but after having conversations with individuals and most recently, reviewing our district’s recent “Community Survey” results, one can evaluate the results by simply stating that our families honestly feel that bullying is an issue in our youth’s lives today.

There are many suggestions we have for our families to try within their homes, which many of our educators use on a daily basis in our buildings and buses. Those would be as follows:

• Help children understand that bullying is more than physical. It can happen in person or over the phone and/or computer.

• Keep open lines of communication with youngsters. Listen to any concerns about friends and other students.

• Encourage students to pursue their interests. Doing what they love may help them be more confident among their peers and make friends with others with similar interests.

• Talk to children about seeking help from a trusted adult when feeling threatened by a bully. Talk about whom they should go to for help and role-play what they should say. Assure children that they should not be afraid to tell an adult when someone they know is being bullied.

• Know what is going on in the youngsters’ school. Visit the school website, read the school newsletters, join parent-teacher organizations and get involved in volunteer booster groups. Get to know other parents, school counselors and staff. Contact the school by phone or email if you have suggestions for making the school a safer and better learning place.

If you suspect your children are being bullied, consider these steps:

• Express your concern and make it clear that you want to help.

• Tell your children that bullying is wrong, that it is not their fault and that you are glad they had the courage to tell you about it.

• Work together to find solutions. Ask your children what they think can be done to help. Reassure them that the situation can be handled privately.

• Share your concerns with the counselors, teachers, bus drivers and/or administrators at your youngsters’ school.

Notify Canfield Local Schools Anonymous Bully/Safety Tip Line at 330-965-2871.

Our district is always looking at ways to improve, not only the classroom environment for our students, but even the quality of life outside of our school walls. We feel that by working together with our families, we can make Cardinal Country an outstanding educational environment for high leveled learning to take place.

If at anytime you have a question or concerns, do not hesitate to contact your child’s appropriate building or the central office at 330-533-3303.

(Alex G. Geordan is the Canfield Local Schools Superintendent. Neighbors will publish his monthly column one Saturday a month during the school year. To comment, send feedback to neighbors@vindy.com and it will be forwarded to Mr. Geordan.)