Children between the ages of 7 and 12 who’ve suffered any kind of loss are being
urged to attend the free Helping Hands Retreat at Camp…
View full post on Latest Local News From BradfordToday.com
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Bradford-Online.com"Bradford, PA’s Original Website" |
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Three children ages 10 through 16 have been arrested for setting fire to a ticket booth at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds.In an e-mail sent to… View full post on Latest Local News From BradfordToday.com | |
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Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Department of Health is urging adults to ensure they View full post on Latest Local News From BradfordToday.com | |
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A Bradford man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for violating laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children.33-year-old Michael Begin was arrested… View full post on Latest Local News From BradfordToday.com | |
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Statistics of children going hungry and higher numbers of famlies requiring emergency food assistance as a result of high levels of unemployment nationwide have come… View full post on Latest News From BradfordToday.com | |
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Harrisburg – The orphans evacuated from quake-stricken Haiti this | |
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First there was a wrap-up party at the Bank Street Community Garden. The party marks the end of the garden’s design and construction. It was also intended to thank Kara Smith and Rachel Ence, the interns who contributed so much to make the project a reality. See our previous post with video. After the wrap-up party, Bradford held it’s first celebration of National Night Out in the Family Video parking lot on West Washington Street. The City of Bradford Police Department provided children’s fingerprinting ID kits, safety information, and gave tours of the City’s Emergency Response Team van. The local D.A.R.T. (Diving And Recovery Team) were also there to explain their operations. McKean County CARE for Children was on hand with safety information and SAFE Kids McKean County handouts. Project Pride Manager Linda Campongiani explains the concept behind Bradford’s National Night Out: Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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If you see these kids out this weekend, please support them, and have a glass of lemonade at the same time! | |
Bullying. Sure, it’s the age. Many of us put up with it in our school years. When it comes to being attacked by a gang there is another name for it: assault. When you walk in to Floyd C. Fretz Middle School in Bradford you will immediately see posters against bullying. Impossible to miss, they’re posted right outside the glass enclosed office. Ask any Fretz student and they’ll tell you, that as far as it goes, posters. On February 14, 2005 the Bradford Area School Board adopted the following policy:
This revision to policy was meant to send a message to students and school staff alike. The Bradford Area School District was recognizing that bullying had a significant effect on students and the schools were to take it seriously. Apparently the message didn’t get through to the staff at Fretz. Bullying, including physical assault is still a way of life there. In 2005 my son was viciously assaulted by a group of Fretz students. The assault began in front of the school in view of the principal, and continued for three blocks. Fortunately an adult passing in his car stopped and aided my son. Charges were filed against the boys. Fretz staff assured us this would be taken seriously. The boys were “suspended” for three days according to policy. After two days they were back in school. I was assured privately that the old principal was retiring and that “things would change”. Fast forward to today. A group of girls surrounded a female student right in front of the glass enclosed office while classes were changing. None of the office staff saw anything. The ring leader physically attacked the victim, who successfully defended herself. She went into the office to report the incident, as she has on each occasion these girls have harassed her. The incident was referred to the Vice Principal, Mr. Benson. He “began an investigation”, but was busy with other duties which he attended to. The parents weren’t notified of the assault. As to the bully, Benson said that “law enforcement was involved.” When pressed as to whom he had notified about the assault Benson admitted that he hadn’t notified anyone. The bottom line, according to Benson is, “We have 270 students, and there’s only so much we can do”. People who wander into dark alleys at night shouldn’t be surprised if they are attacked. Children who attend Fretz Middle School should be able to attend without fear of being attacked and harassed every day. Especially when they have reported the incidents to the school officials who are supposed to protect them. Charges will be filed by the parents over this latest incident. They weren’t filed before because Fretz officials told them this would be dealt with. The School Board has stated the policy that is supposed to be filed. The Police will do their part too. But nothing will really change until Fretz officials decide to take the District’s Anti-bullying policy seriously. As parents, we can’t go to school each day to protect our kids. When will the Fretz staff realize we entrust the safety of our children to them? How can a student concentrate on school when they are afraid to change classes? It’s time they realized there is more to an anti-bullying policy that putting a poster on the wall. |
