| Rick travels by his neighborhood schools everyday | | | | 1. They can sponsor programs and speakers. These |
| without giving them a second thought. He is 30 years | | | | programs need to be made available for families on |
| old and has two children ages three and one. He is | | | | parenting, conflict resolution, anger management, |
| not concerned about the schools' atmosphere now | | | | literacy skills, English skills, communication skills, or |
| because it does not affect himself or his family. He is | | | | computer skills. Many parents who need these skills |
| a manager in the accounting department of a large | | | | will never show up for the program and this a shame. |
| fortune 500 company and he believes he is on the | | | | For those who do show up, it is an incredible |
| way up the corporate ladder. | | | | opportunity to change their family's direction. |
| Mary lives down the street from Rick and she leaves | | | | 2. Provide part time jobs, summer, after school, and |
| home at 6:00 in the morning to go to work. She | | | | weekend only jobs. Even if it is only one job, it can |
| works in a factory at a local plastics firm. Her children | | | | make a big difference in student's life. We can start |
| have already graduated from the local schools. Mary, | | | | an internship program with local companies, including |
| of course, still pays for the schools through her real | | | | the health care field, this way we provide a positive |
| estate taxes. | | | | experience for the student. For the student who has |
| Marlene's situation is quite different from Mary's. She | | | | a vision of what is possible this will have a positive |
| owns aflower shop and works from 10:00 a.m. to | | | | impact on there behavior in school. Those who |
| 6:30 in the evening. She is not home when her middle | | | | believe they're not going on to college or able to |
| school children come home from school. | | | | achieve high-level jobs will act up more in classrooms. |
| The local schools these three individuals send, sent or | | | | 3. Sponsoring before and after school programs in |
| will send their children are like any other school. They | | | | sports and academics is a necessity. Most students |
| have excellent teachers and some not so excellent | | | | get into trouble between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. This |
| ones. The students are surrounded by bullying, | | | | is when we need to keep them off the street. Some |
| exclusion from cliques, fights, disrespect for teachers, | | | | ideas would include offering sports, tutoring, technical |
| and drug use. This describes any school in America. | | | | support for students, and after school literacy |
| Parents are busy blaming the schools while the | | | | programs. After school clubs of any sort will place |
| schools are blaming the parents. Unfortunately, the | | | | students together with others who have their same |
| truth is the problem of school violence and bullying will | | | | interests. |
| never improve until parents, students, school staff | | | | 4. Have principal of the day programs. This will help |
| and the community work together. | | | | local businessconnect with both the schools and the |
| How can the community become involved when | | | | students much better. If businesses feel a connection |
| individuals are busy working or they do not have | | | | to the school they are more likely to support school |
| children in the schools? Why should the community | | | | activities. |
| even get involved? What can Rick, Mary, and Marlene | | | | 5. Tutoring from employees. Imagine if corporations |
| do to make a difference? | | | | could grant twohours per week for an employee to |
| Why we need Community involvement | | | | go to the school and tutor someone in the library. |
| It isn't at all surprising to learn that bullies who are | | | | This can be extremely beneficial to a student who is |
| identified by age eight are six times more likely to be | | | | struggling. |
| convicted of a crime by the age 24 than non-bullies. | | | | 6. Retraining the teachers. Offer classes on teacher |
| Crime affects all of us. If we can control the bullying, | | | | education andclassroom management. Bring in senior |
| we may see a correlation to a reduction in crime. In | | | | teachers, retired teachers, or teacher educators to |
| many areas, crime is out of control. The police need | | | | share their knowledge. Experience is a great teacher |
| and request our help, but many of us do not want to | | | | and we need to share it. |
| become involved. This same attitude is in our schools | | | | 7. Offer free legal services for teachers and all school |
| and it must change. It is time for bystanders to | | | | employees. Overactive lawyers, the ACLU, and their |
| become involved. | | | | clients threaten to sue the schools all the time. These |
| If students are allowed to bully in school and get | | | | teachers and administrators need help in defending |
| away with it,then they carry that entitlement onto | | | | the most stupid lawsuits. No teacher should have to |
| the public streets. Soon they will go on to be | | | | worry about being sued for giving a failing grade. |
| workplace bullies. A power imbalance is sure to | | | | Free legal help will help teachers avoid what is termed |
| happen later in life with other relationships beside | | | | defensive teaching. |
| employment such as dating violence, racial | | | | 8. Community volunteers can read to younger |
| harassment, child abuse, and spousal abuse. | | | | students. Just like the tutoring this can give the |
| Why is this important to us if we do not have | | | | students another positive adult in their life. Volunteer |
| children currently in the schools? All of our children | | | | to come into the classroom, or before and after |
| and grandchildren are or will be going through school | | | | school time to help. |
| system and then onto the workforce. This will affect | | | | 9. Start a mentoring program with local college |
| them whether they end up with a bully as a boss, | | | | students. The college students can tutor, give advice |
| interacting with a classroom bully or have a | | | | about finances, college life, studying or they can just |
| relationship with the bully. Today one out of every | | | | be there to listen. The rewards of this measure can |
| three is affected by domestic violence. These are | | | | be huge. |
| excellent reasons why we as adults must get | | | | 10. If you're a stay-at-home parent and there is a |
| involved. | | | | bus stop by yourhouse, please watch the students. |
| Ways for the community to become involved | | | | If a student is being picked on ormisbehaving then |
| It will take being proactive instead of being reactive | | | | write down what they're wearing and contact the |
| to increase the number of community members that | | | | school. This way someone can meet the bus as it |
| would be willing to become involved with the local | | | | arrives. |
| schools. As a society we need to realize that it is | | | | The bottom line is we need the parents, students, |
| easier to help enrich the kids if we are willing to help | | | | staff, and the community to be on the same page |
| enrich their families. Whether it is Rick, Mary, Marlene | | | | and to be working together. Too often we are |
| or anyone else, we must not be afraid of becoming | | | | working against ourselves and the current results |
| involved. The "I don't want get involved" attitude | | | | show this. The epidemic known as school violence |
| that society has must stop. Here are a few ways | | | | and bullying will not disappear but it can be greatly |
| corporations, small businesses, and individuals can help: | | | | reduced by working together and becoming involved. |