Bullying Prevention:
By Amanda Miller
When you see this happen to your friends or whoever it is around you, don’t just not speak up. It’s important that they show that this is not acceptable behavior. They would not want to have that behavior being done to them. [Also,] we want to make sure that whoever is the victim of bullying is supported, and there’s a lot of conversations that can be had through the parents about that to help in the classrooms.” For National Bullying Prevention Month, according to the website, Jefferson Parish School Board requires students in grades 3-12 to receive and acknowledge receipt of one hour of age- appropriate Anti-Bullying Training. The schools must also provide a designated area where students can anonymously make reports of bullying. By providing students with these tools and preparing them for what to expect, they are more equipped to navigate through bullying situations, whether they are experiencing the bullying themselves or one of their friends. Training for Teachers Teachers are sometimes the first line of defense
When he was 13 years old, Traeh Thyssen was an eighth-grade student in the talented arts and gifted program. He played the violin and cello, and he had long, curly hair that he was growing out to donate when he turned 18.
situations–reports that bullying is the most submitted tip on the app.
Darlene Cusanza, President & CEO of Safe Schools Louisiana, explains, “Our number one tip has to do with bullying, whether it’s cyberbullying or bullying in person, and we’ve seen that continue, pretty much for several years, where that has been the highest level of reports. We’ve also seen an increase in reports about self- harm. So of the two, that’s the majority of the tips that have come through.” With the number of bullying reports reaching such high levels, what are our schools doing to help stop this from happening? How much can they intervene? Culture in the Classroom At the root of it all, the culture of the school and in the classroom plays a huge role in protecting students and preventing bullying. Establishing respect for fellow students and looking out for one another is especially helpful. Cusanza shares, “We talk quite a bit about students being upstanders, not just bystanders.
Despite his philanthropic heart, his hair was one of many things he experienced bullying over.
Dr. Rosalynn Thyssen, his mother and founder of the Have a Heart Foundation, shares, “[Traeh] did experience all forms of bullying, from verbal to physical to purposeful exclusion, where he was purposely excluded from activities, and cyberbullying as well.” Hoping to put a stop to the bullying, Traeh reported the bullying to a teacher. Dr. Rosalynn also met with school administrators, where she was told that, “they will take care of it, they will look into it, and that he seemed ‘okay.’” Traeh committed suicide in October of 2019 due to the unresolved bullying. Crimestoppers Safe Schools Louisiana–an app that allows students to anonymously submit tips in order to help keep themselves or others safe from threats, harmful behaviors, or dangerous
24 SEPTEMBER 2023 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
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