Bullying.
A topic covered daily across the world, but the problem does not stop. How can we end this epidemic? Teachers, administrators, and students at ALHS offer their insight on this tough topic.
Mindy Kruger, mathematics teacher, has been in situations where she found herself stopping an incident in class.
“I had some students who were picking on another student in class,” Kruger said. “The one who was being bullied, the student wrote me a note because I did not know it was happening. It was happening in the back of the classroom.”
Kruger contacted the victim in another class and told her she would take care of the problem.
“I did a new seating chart,” Kruger said. “I moved all the students so it wasn’t obvious what I was doing.”
Another point Kruger brought up was, the fact the kids knew they were bullying.
“I had another situation where they were teasing someone in class,” Kruger said. “I had to talk to these individuals and say, ‘This can’t happen. You know you’re doing this on purpose. You can’t do that.’”
Senior Alana Skarstad is involved with many different activities in the high school. She is the swim team captain, plays flute in the band, she is in Mock Trial, softball, National Honor Society and Link Crew.
“As the captain of the swim team, I try to talk to everybody on the team,” Skarstad said. “We have a really big team this year and I wanted to make sure they are enjoying swimming and have somebody they can go to if they have any questions.”
Having somebody to talk to can help, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you may be a victim of bullying, or if you are having any struggles in your life.
Principal Mark Grossklaus explains how building a connection, or having a bond, with other students and staff members can help with the fear of telling anyone.
“Overall we try to promote a no-tolerance zone by having our teachers and staff being out and about,” Grossklaus said. “Welcoming students, making them feel comfortable here. We hope that at least one adult here in the building connects with a student.”
Bullying is a problem that will not go away unless people of all ages speak up. Grossklaus, Skarstad and Kruger all agree that when you see bullying taking place; interfere.
“We have too many people who see things happening, but don’t step in to interfere and say, ‘That’s not right,’” Kruger said.
Kruger claims we have too many people who “are willing to just close their eyes and walk on by.”
“The ones who don’t interfere, think, ‘Well, I didn’t do it, so it’s not my problem,’” Kruger said. “They could be part of the solution.”
Skarstad has fortunately never been a victim of this problem, but wants to end bullying just like Grossklaus, Kruger, and all other staff and students at ALHS.
“I think everybody just needs to accept that people have different views, and not everybody is the same,” Skarstad said. “You may not agree with something somebody is doing, but attacking them for it is not going to solve any problems.”
Grossklaus and other administration are trying to promote positive energy at ALHS, hoping it will help put an end to the bullying.
“We do the list of policies at the beginning of the school year, with bullying being one,” Grossklaus said. “Then, we just keep promoting positive things. Once we find out what’s going on, we deal with it right away.”
It takes only one to step in and interfere with bullying. Be the change you want to see.