Monterey County group offering advice to parents and educators on bullying
Heartbreaking video of a student assaulted at North Salinas High School, shocked thousands on social media.
“I want people to see this video. I want her to see this video. I want her parents to see this video. To show everyone that this is not cool,” said Guierllmo Hernandez, the victim’s father.
Hernandez said the school knew their daughter was being bullied, over a year ago. He said the attack happened shortly after a ‘conflict resolution team meeting,’ set up by the school.
“Conflict resolution is only appropriate in a bullying situation after a lot of assessment and ground work has been done,” Pinkie Weesner, Bullying Prevention Program Manager at Harmony at Home.
Weesner teaches bullying prevention tactics in 18 Monterey County schools. She is trained to address situations like the one seen at North Salinas High School.
“Reporting bullying is a risk. People risk being identified as the cause of it. People risk the humiliation of saying that it is happening to me. People risk putting themselves into the equation,” said Weesner.
She said acknowledging the problem as a group is the first step. Harmony at Home teaches the students that they need to stand up for each other, and that adults also must actively tackle the problem themselves. “Communicating with peers at the schools, asking if we are seeing it at other places, asking trusted students to share their information. Not publicly in front of students. One on one,” said Weesner.
Harmony at Home does not work with Salinas Union High School District, but said parents should talk to their kids about bullying and what to do if they see it happening.
“Adults are responsible for developing the environment within which students feel safe to stand up for each other. When that happens, things change,” said Weesner.
Weesner recommends the following links to parents of children who are struggling with bullying:
www.violencepreventionworks.org
To learn more about how Harmony at Home can help visit: www.harmony-at-home.org/bullying-prevention/
