School districts tackle bullying head-on Educators realize importance of starting young and repeating anti-message as students mature. Monday, May 14, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times Sticks and stones still break bones and words hurt more than ever. That's the message going out to students in local school districts. Administrators, teachers and other officials are preaching an anti-bullying message. In Pohatcong Township, the school will wrap up a yearlong series of programs on character education Tuesday with two assemblies, Both will feature speaker/magician Jim Vagias, who will talk about respect, responsibility and caring. For Diane Mandry, the chief school administrator, it's all about teaching kids the negative effects of teasing and how students can handle being teased. Mandry sees it as a life skill. "We want the school to be a comfortable, happy place," Mandry said. "As a mother, it breaks my heart to see someone be teased." Besides assemblies, the school offers peer mediation for students with a conflict. Patton echoed Mandry's sentiment of wanting a safe school and said character education has always been a topic in the forefront. School officials said the program is especially relevant in light of that fact that just under a year ago, an 11-year-old girl was given a year of probation for threatening to bring a shotgun to school and shoot teachers and administrators. Rebecca Hanuszak's father, Frank, said at the time his daughter's threat came after she was teased by classmates. Lopatcong Superintendent Mike Rossi has been in education for 20 years and has seen school responses to bullying shift significantly. "The pendulum has swung from reacting to events to engaging the students educationally in a proactive stance," Rossi said. Lopatcong faculty and administration get involved in identifying bullying and reaching out to students. The kids themselves learn to define what bullying is and where the line is on having fun and making fun. "Ever-evolving educational practices have taught us we need to engage the student from kindergarten through graduation if we want to see society improve," Rossi said. Phillipsburg student assistance coordinator Bob Pierfry pointed to the district's involvement in Rachel's Challenge. That program is based on positive messages and acts of kindness inspired by the first victim of the Columbine massacre. Pierfry said because of human nature it's tough to eliminate bullying entirely. He said some of the responsibility falls on parents to follow how their kids are acting and notice changes in behavior. Pierfry said some old adages don't hold up anymore. "Words hurt, probably more than hitting; words can last a long time," Pierfry said. The Warren County Prosecutor's Office has also gotten involved in anti-bullying efforts in schools. Prosecutor Scott Ferguson said Assistant Prosecutor Tara Kirkendall, who specializes in juvenile cases, often speaks to schools about bullying. Mandry said she often works with Pohatcong police on programs and was set to meet with the department Friday on a school security plan. Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. © 2007 The Express-Times. Used with permission.