Part One: The Educator’s Fight Against Bullying

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I was a freshman in a local high school before I had the gall to stand up to bullies. Two boys were making fun of a girl we knew who was overweight. The things they said about her had me completely taken aback. I was a very quiet kid at the time, and I always kept my nose in a book and avoided confrontation at school. But what these boys said was not going to fly.

To hear more about my story, check out our editorial for part three here.

October is Bullying Prevention Month, and it is a great time to broach the importance of discussing bullying with your children or students. One East Texas educator is doing his part to end the tyranny of bullying in his school.

Matt Clifton has been the principal at Huntington Middle School for 10 months and was the assistant principal for two and a half years before that. He received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s of education in administration degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, and he has worked in education for 10 years.

“Bullying is not tolerated in Huntington ISD,” Clifton said. “We take each allegation seriously, and we come up with a plan to resolve any situation that arises.”

For a full copy of the Huntington ISD bullying policy, see this PDF.

Clifton and Huntington Middle school fight bullying by talking to students and welcoming programs like #endbullying in which students are asked to wear shirts with #endbullying on them one day of each month.

“We have had many instances where students have gathered enough courage to speak out when they are faced with these situations,” Clifton said. “When a student is able to speak out and the situation is resolved, they build confidence in themselves and the system. This brings about faith in adults to help them deal with situations that they are not able to handle themselves.”

Preventing bullying does not end with educators, however, and Clifton has advice for parents seeking to stop bullying from home.

“Bullying often times seems to be the by product of students’ own insecurities,” Clifton said. “Students who are not nurtured in the correct way at home will seek other ways to make themselves feel powerful in other situations.”

Clifton said the lack of nurturing children experience in the home may be the root of the problem, and the law and policy upheld by educators can only go so far.

Misty Boggs, the editor and chief of TFCL, has dealt first hand with bullies at many points of her life. Her story is also be featured in this story about the TFCL staff’s experiences with bullying.

“With the kid’s I’ve helped,” Boggs said, “what’s worked best is to help them understand the consequences of their decision.”

She counsels parents who suspect their children of having the signs of bullying to start a dialogue with them. To listen to their side of the story and to lovingly give advice, so both parent and child can understand each other.

Texas has state laws protecting children against bullying. In 2011, a state law was passed that requires schools to have bullying policy.

According to the law, to be considered bullying, behavior must exploit an imbalance of power. It must interfere with a student’s education or substantially disrupt school operations. If the behavior results in physical harm to a student, damage to the student’s property or the creation of an intimidating, threatening or abusive environment for the student when the behavior is “sufficiently severe, persistent and pervasive” then school officials and parents can take legal action,

If the problem of bullying stems from a child’s home life, parents need to be aware of the ways to stop bullying. Here are some tips for dealing with the bullies and the bullied:

Recognize the warning signs.

According to Tori Harrington, assistant account executive of Newport Academy, bullying has a direct correlation to substance abuse. Harrington encourages parents to be aware that teens who are bullied have a greater risk of developing mental health disorders, considering suicide, drinking alcohol alone rather than in social situations, and smoking cigarettes or marijuana. According to Stomp Out Bullying, some warning signs that your child may be a bully include: positive views toward violence, agressive nature toward others, a need to control others and surroundings, hot temperment, breaks rules, shows little sympathy toward others who are being bullied. Remember that loving your child has to sometimes include teaching them how they are wrong. Parents are a key instrument in stopping a bully at home.

Work with school officials.

Nine times out of 10, your school’s officials are there to work with you for the benefit of your child. Come to them with an attitude of determination and respect to calmly and efficiently resolve the issues.

Speak with the adults and kids involved.

Finding the real story is an important part of solving problems with bullies. Speak to

Be aware of your options.

State law allows parents of the victim to request that their child be transferred to another classroom or campus.

For more information on bullying in the law, school, and home, visit https://www.stopbullying.gov/laws/texas.html.


Check out the second and third installments of this story: Part Two: The Church’s Fight Against Bullying and Part Three: Bullying and Our Experience.

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Grace Baldwin
(Bethany) Grace Baldwin has an Associate Degree in Journalism from Angelina College and is working on a double major of English and Journalism at Stephen F. Austin State University. She thoroughly enjoys reading, writing, and has an indelible passion for words.

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