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Second Auburn University Anti-Bullying Summit cultivates ‘heroes’

Representatives of Auburn University’s Truman Pierce Institute and the Office of Professional and Continuing Education are encouraging educators, school administrators, parents, students, law enforcement professionals and mental health workers to “take a stand” against school bullying.

Auburn University’s second annual national Anti-Bullying Summit will bring together more than 300 individuals from each of these groups for the purposes of understanding the roots of bullying, building successful intervention plans and developing supportive school cultures. The conference will be held July 11-13 at the Grand Hotel and Point Clear Resort in Fairhope, Ala.

In addition to featuring keynote speakers and offering sessions addressing such topics as cyberbullying, preventative strategies, peer mentoring, school policies and community partnerships, the summit will also provide recognition for individuals who exemplify the conference theme of “Be a Hero – Take a Stand!” The “Hero Awards” will honor six individuals and groups who have taken action to address bullying.

Cynthia Reed, director of the Truman Pierce Institute and professor of educational leadership in Auburn’s College of Education, said the toll inflicted by school bullies extends well beyond the taunting, tripping, pushing and punching that may happen in hallways and on playgrounds. In 2010 alone, at least 14 cases of student suicide were directly linked to bullying. According to a U.S. Department of Education report, approximately 160,000 children stay home from school each day because they are afraid of being bullied physically, verbally, emotionally or sexually.

Those safety concerns also increase the possibility of victims dropping out of school, obtaining poor grades, or turning to drugs and alcohol as a means of escape, Reed said.

According to the report, “Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2011,” 28 percent of students ages 12-18 reported being bullied at school during the school year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that one in five adolescents surveyed said they had been the victim of cyberbullying in their lives.

Bullying resurfaced as a topic of national conversation in June, when a YouTube video of New York middle school students verbally taunting a 68-year-old bus monitor went viral and sparked public outcry.

Last Updated: Jul 06, 2012