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Ohio Teachers, Social Workers Offered Anti-Bullying Education
By: Taylor Pool
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Ohio is stepping up anti-bulling prevention in schools with workshops across the state to train teachers, social workers and other professionals to prevent bullying.
Athens City Schools Superintendent Carl Martin says the anti-bullying movement is a national effort.
The workshops, offered around the state through the Ohio Attorney General's office, will educate teachers on new anti-bullying policies, such as the Jessica Logan Act going in effect next school year.
Martin says the schools are also educating students on the effects of bullying.
While there are still incidents of bullying in Athens schools, Martin says he thinks their efforts are working.
"Students should and need to be able to come to school and feel safe and enjoy the environment, the educational environment and the social environment of school," said Martin. "They don't need to be harassed and bullied to the point that they aren't comfortable coming to school and it starts to affect their mental well-being and the whole educational environment."
The Ohio Department of Education is still working on guidelines on "cyber-bullying."
Those guidelines should become available by the end of the school year.
The workshops have taken place in Cincinnati and Columbus, the next session is scheduled for May 2 at Washington State Community College.