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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016
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Will bullying
ever go away??
WWW.EMPORIAGAZETTE.COM
CATHRYNE SCHARTON/GAZETTE
Commissioners discuss and
review the five year plan.
B U L L Y I N G
K E P T
S E C R E T
PARENTS NEED TO KNOW
“I want to know when she is
bullied, I need to know,” Joyce
Jones, Xena’s mother said. “It’s my
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the job to protect her, to support her. I
fourth of a multipart series on need to know what is going on so I
bullying. The first articles ad- can make sure she is okay.”
The parents also report that
dressed defining bullying, youth
sharing their experiences and they are concerned that some chilbullying prevention programs. dren would never tell their parents
Today, parent reactions to bul- about being bullied so the school
lying are shared (the names are should do so.
“So many instances of bullying
pseudonyms). The final article
will address how the community go unreported,” Jones said. “What
about those children that will
can help reduce bullying.
never tell their parents. They need
Joe Smith’s son, Wade, is in support.”
Nancy Horst, director of comsixth grade at Emporia Middle
School. Wade experiences bul- munications for Emporia Public
lying at least three times a week Schools confirms that the district
— including being tripped and does not notify parents because of
pushed down in the hallways. One the privacy concerns.
“We are required to follow state
of Smith’s biggest concerns is that
the school does not notify him and federal privacy laws which
about the bullying. He only finds make student information confiout when the day ends and his son dential, specifically the Kansas
Student Data Privacy Act and the
notifies him of the bullying.
Family Educational
Do you
thinkthe
bullying is a problemfederal
in area schools?
Other parents
report
Rights and Privacy Act
same dilemma — they
(FERPA),” Horst
are not notified
said. “The Kanwhen their child
UNSURE
sas
S D PA
is bullied.
passed two
“It’s odd
ye a rs a go
that no one
NO
strengthfrom the
ened the
s c h o o l
privacy
calls me
rights of
when my
YES
students
son
is
with regard
tripped,
to their acaDo you think bullying
pushed or
demic record.
shoved,”
is a problem in
“A student’s
S mith s aid.
disciplinary re“But if he retaliarea schools?
cord is part of his or
ates he gets susher academic record and
pended. They wait unparents or guardians are the ontil that point to notify me?”
“I never get a call if he is bullied,” ly ones entitled to the information
Sue James, mother of a sixth grader unless the confidentiality is waived
at EMS said. “I would like a call. I or there is some legal action that
most certainly get a call if he has do- allows another party to have acne something they don’t approve of. cess to the information. Only the
student who has been disciplined
I want to know when it happens.”
By Jessie Wagoner
[email protected]
Total number of bullying
occurrences for the past
4 years and so far this
school year as recorded
by school administrators.
These are K-12 numbers.
and his or her parent/guardian has
the right to share that information,”
she said.
The only exception to this would
be if criminal charges are filed.
“The only exception would be a
situation that is referred to law enforcement,” Horst said. “If criminal
charges are filed, the public may
have access to some information
about consequences, but even for
juveniles that information may be
limited.”
For the parents interviewed by
The Emporia Gazette, privacy concerns mean little to them — they
simply want assurance that their
child is safe.
“I want to know when he goes
to school that he is safe,” Smith
said. “I also want to be called by
the school when he is unsafe and
bullied. I don’t think that is too
much to ask.”
“I again go back to all the children that are bullied that will not
tell their parents,” Jones said.
“Who is watching out for those
children? Not the school.”
According to stopbullying.gov,
many times children won’t ask for
help or disclose bullying. The site
encourages parents to be on the
lookout for warning signs that a
child is involved in bullying. Those
warning signs include:
✦✦Unexplainable injuries
✦✦Lost or destroyed clothing,
books, electronics or jewelry
Please see Bullying, Page 3
CITY
LOOKS
INTO THE
FUTURE
By Cathryne Scharton
[email protected]
Commissioners received a
draft of a 5-year plan presented
by Emporia city staff at Wednesday’s city commission meeting.
“The city of Emporia has
been discussing the new wastewater plant that will need to be
constructed in order to comply
with federal and state regulations,” city manager Mark McAnarney told the commission.
“The estimated cost of the new
wastewater plant is approximately $26 million dollars and
will need to be financed in order
to build it. The city is looking at
various methods to finance the
new wastewater plant in a manner that impacts the ratepayer
the least.”
The commission also received information on a new
playground that is compliant
with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“The city of Emporia desires to upgrade the playground
equipment in the public parks so
that it is more modern and accessible to all people,” McAnarney
said. “The proposed playground
equipment in Hammond Park
will be accessible to all children.”
Additionally, the commission heard from Friends of the
Animal Shelter in conjunction
with the Humane Society of the
United States on their trap, neuter and return efforts at Eighth
Avenue and Rural Street. In the
process, feral cats are trapped,
neutered and then returned to
their natural habitat. The process helps r