As previously stated, October is a very busy month for Team Selma.  In addition to recognizing and appreciating principals and custodians, it is also National Bullying Prevention Month.  Bullying is real, and it is a serious problem for educators nationwide.  Selma City Schools is no exception.

In an age where social media allows everyone access to, well, just about everyone, our schools grapple with how to keep up with technology.  Technology has provided new outlets for school bullies to strike.  From the Internet and instant messaging to apps that appeared to be designed for the purpose of intimidating. Threats or harassment from bullies is no longer limited to school playgrounds and hallways. Our scholars can be “cyberbullied” through e-mails, text messages, blogs, vlogs, social-networking sites and a variety of other digital means of communication.

So what are schools to do?  As a leader, I want to ensure that every scholar within my charge feels safe in every class, every day.  I want to be able to ensure parents that our schools are safe.  Social media creates a challenge, as schools cannot control what our scholars do when they are not in school. 

So what do we do?

Did you know that the state of Alabama recently passed an anti-bullying law?  State lawmakers tackled the issue during the 2018 regular legislative session by passing HB366, also known as the Jamari Terrell Williams Student Bullying Prevention Act. The bill, which was authored by Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, was named in memory of a fifth-grader in Montgomery who took his own life last year after being bullied.

The act amends the Code of Alabama to include language that specifically mentions “cyberbullying,” or using an electronic means to bully or harass and acknowledges that bullying and intimidation can occur “on or off school property, online, or electronically.”

With this new legislation and as part of National Bullying Prevention Month, I want to announce that Team Selma is forming an Anti-bullying Task Force.  The primary goal of this group will be to thoroughly review HB366 so that we can not only ensure compliance but also go above and beyond to protect our children.  Within our Framework for Excellence strategic plan, this work will fit squarely as part of our Social Emotional Learning Framework.

Over the next two weeks, I will dig a little deeper into our work of addressing bullying.  Next week, I will focus on the bully.  Why do students bully others?  What do parents do when their child is the bully?  The following week, I will focus on the bystander.  How can our scholars be advocates for their friends? 

This is a complex issue that I look forward to addressing.  Student safety is a priority and we must stop bullying.

For more information, email me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org.