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NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. – An impassioned plea to stop bullying at the Northbridge Middle School, made to the School Committee by the mother of a student two weeks ago, has lead to a rift between a member of the Board of Selectmen and a school board member.
The mother, who identified herself as Mrs. C to protect the identity of her children, said her 13-year-old daughter was driven to thoughts of suicide after months of incessant bullying. She has since taken her daughter out of the middle school, but has a son there who she said is also being bullied
Selectman James J. Athanas, at a meeting of the Board of Selectmen last night, said parents received a note about the bullying issue from the school. He had a question and was told “that it was none of my business,’’ he said.
Athanas said he understands that selectmen have no jurisdiction over the school department. He feels, though, that as a parent and citizen, he deserved a different response. “I was offended,’’ he said.
“Obviously what they have in place isn’t working,’’ he said. “I think it is our place to show some type of leadership,’’ he said of selectmen.
Selectman Charles Ampagoomian said he agreed with Athanas. "We may not have direct control, but we are responsible... we have to face the community.''
"And as a parent,'' he said, "you have every right to question.''
Town Manager Theodore Kozak said he’d been asked to look into the bullying accusation. Schools Superintendent Susan Gorky and School Committee Chairman Michael McGrath responded with emails they asked he read at Monday night’s meeting.
“The Northbridge School Committee takes bullying very seriously and insists that the school leadership investigate every issue to the fullest extent possible. We were deeply moved by the comments given by the parent at our meeting on Tuesday night. I have personally met with the superintendent to understand all that is being done with regards to this situation,’’ McGrath wrote.
He continued, “We are striving to have a bully free school district, but understand that we are in the middle of the process and still have a distance to travel.’’
McGrath said the School Committee will discuss and review its kindergarten through grade 12 bullying procedures and progress at a meeting on May 8.
Gorky said school administrators were touched by the statement made by Mrs. C about the alleged incidents and they are being investigated. She noted, however, that she is unable to comment further due to confidentiality.
The School Department has “zero tolerance’’ for bullying, has numerous programs within the system to discourage that behavior, and “looks forward to eradicating bullies from our schools,’’ she said.
In unrelated matters, selectmen:
- Affirmed the appointments made by Kozak of Daniel Chauvin as animal control officer, and Katherine Hawkins as inspector of animals.
- Approved a liquor license for Divine Thai Restaurant, 123 Church St., on the condition its manager is has received TIPS certification from the Alcoholic Beverages Commission.
- Voted in support of a special permit for work in the flood plain for the Whitinsvlle Water Company Water Treatment Facility on Carr Street.
- Gave the Fire Department permission to hang a banner over Church Street from April 25 through May 6 to advertise its annual spaghetti supper planned Saturday, May 12.
- Gave Blackstone Valley Pop Warner permission to conduct a boot drive on Saturday, June 23 from 9 a.m. to noon at Memorial Square.
Comments (19)
What is going to happen to the kids of today? They get checked in hockey and there parents want to press charges,maybe he should of taken up cheer leading. I for one have never seen so many kids being brought up a bunch of wimps, maybe they should bring back the draft, 4 years in the service would do them good, away from the apron strings. I know all kids are not like this but too many are. I see the school bus stop at every house to pick them up, what ever happen to the school bus stop when 8 to 12 kids got on? The 1st to 5th grade kids I understand but the older ones???? I also see the bus driver wait for the kid to come out of the house, sorry if your not out then walk. Just had to vent on this matter.
We believe that the problem is "Bullying".
If there is evidence of it, do somthing about it!
Who is responsible for action ending it?
Years ago is was out in the open, and yes it was cured or there was an epidemic of bullied kids.
Today it is hidden. A most prefered method of the coward(s). Pick your weapon! Communications (Cellphone) to be one weapon, without exposure.
Yes, there is less prental interaction, Why?
Is it because the current academic culture beliefs has endendered this reduction of interaction from the parents?
The logic of the one of the tenents of the current academic culture beliefs would indicate that it is the school system area of influence and control. However the exposure of the "bully" as a juvinile is protected by law. Those that have been "bullied" have a choice of exposure. No one else has that right to expose the "bullied". Anyone doing so is violating the "bullied" rights and should be taken to task at a minimum. As far as the town residents go, they are free to express their concerns to whomever they wish and that may be reflected in a comment by anyone at any Board, Committee, etc... as it benefits the corrections of wrongs. There is no ill agenda in "Right".
We have all faced "Bullies". What did we do about it?
Frog you really need to come up for air.
I moved to Northbridge for the lower priced houses, but with a 4 year old about to enter a school system three words make living in Northbridge a lot easier...."School of Choice".
one last one on this subject, juggy,
as it takes away from the purpose of
this article:
What's the difference in quality
between a $45K first grade teacher
and a $70K first grade teacher?
frog pond,
If you go to Hopkinton, Southborough, or Westborough, Town Annual Budget websites it would reflect we are getting an 'excellent deal' in Nbridgeville.
For the Classroom demands, Unfunded Mandates, that are now placed on today's Teachers, plus their advance College Degree's we are getting an excellent deal.
Hopefully the Town may give them all an excellent well deserved COLA increase, so they may not leave for these other School Districts I mentioned, or other States.
juggy, here's the proposed budget:
http://www.nps.org/node/3334
check out some of the salaries in the
Elementary Schools and Administrators.
@ Shazie
Underpaid??? Have you seen the town report? With teachers at 60K-80Kyear (oops school year...180 days not too shabby)
Let's not forget tenure, once that is achieved you're untouchable.
But I digress, as sole blame does not lie on teachers here. The Gorky administration is a taxpayer $$$ vacuum with hack positions and indifference to the student body and community as a whole.
This is about a young girl whose innocence was stripped away violently. Now, she cannot heal or attempt to because she is reminded daily in what should be a place for her to be able to put that experience on the back burner for a few hours a day.
You're right, icecat, we're not talking about rape.
We're talking about the relative of a rapist bullying
the girl that got raped. Intimidating her physically
and verbally for testifying. You think that's OK?
Hey frog come on up for AIR we are not talking about Rape just kids being kids if you rape someone you should be put away for good. I am talking day to day stuff like you went out with my girlfriend then lets dance in the parking lot after school to get it out and over with. Maybe if kids could get there anger out with a good old fight then there would be less trouble in school. Oh and by the way we didn't need GUNS to take care of problems like they do today, and the cops let the teachers handle the fights. (breaking them up).
You gotta be kidding, Shazie. Underpaid, underfunded, unsupported
educators? Have you seen the budget? Educators are living large
in this town, a lot larger than the general population. Granted, it's
not their job to cover for the irresponsibility of home life. But when
those punks are in school, don't think for a moment you don't have
the backing to kick butt or throw them out.
What went on in Hadley was bad. There was too much talking and
not enough proaction.
I take issue with the fact that one of our Selectmen has gotten involved with this at all. He comments that he was told that the issue is "none of his business". That's true! He's right that as a parent it's your job to question (though as he brought this up at a Board of Selectman meeting I question which role he was actually acting in). That being said, confidentiality exists for a number of reasons and kudos to the administration for not giving in to someone who appears to be using his public position inappropriately. Specifics of this, or any bullying incident are not his business; as a parent, community member or selectman. I've worked as a middle level administrator and he would have gotten the same response from me. This is not an issue that our Selectmen should even be discussing. There's plenty of blame to go around where bullying is concerned, and until our society takes this on as a community, not just as schools, we will never "fix" the issue. Somehow it has now become the job of our underpaid, underfunded and undersupported educators to teach our children manners, right from wrong, and all of the other important lessons that used to be the responsibility of home.
Bad response, Jethro. Read the other article.
A young girl gets raped, then is physically
bullied by a male relative of the rapist.
You got a daughter, Jethro?
I agree with icecat. We never had these problems in the 1970's and 1980's. All this intervention, policies and procedures are asinine. But that's what we've evolved into, I guess - a pathetic, frail species.
There is one common theme here. Gorky only worries about Gorky. This town has seen it time and time again. When someone doesn't do their job, they shouldn't have that job - period!
This is not a single instance of Gorky not doing her job. She spends most of her time covering her own @##, not caring for the children she is responsibe for! When a child is in need - you act and you act immediately - this is horrifying.
First, a school system the size of Northbridge has no need for an assistant superintendent. What a waste of taxpayer $$$.
Second, Gorky is a despot who bullies her faculty and staff into her line of thinking.
They are indifferent to the issue. My son and several of his friends attempted to create an anti-bullying student group. They were told there was NO bullying in Northbridge schools and were refused support and resources to get started.
We need to rid ourselves of Ms Gorky and take our schools in a new direction. The NHS is basically a juvenile detention hall. Whole classrooms dedicated to "in-school" suspensions. Are you kidding me? A teacher taken away from a class to babysit the future felons of the world. Send them home and let the parents do their job for a change.
Now the NMS is falling into disrepute. Nothing will change with the current administration.
Gorky gotta go!!!
icecat, you should read the article:
http://www.thedailynorthbridge.com/news/northbridge-mom-tells-disturbing-story-bullying
we're not talking Lawrence Welk Days here.
The School Committee has been given definitive information about
specific individual victims and how they're suffering. The school
administrators should be directly and physically involved in
protecting these victims. Talk is cheap. Earn your pay.
What ever happen to the good fight in the parking lot after school, 3 out of 5 days per week there was a fight in our high school parking lot, and most of the time you became friends after the fight.