Portland, Tennessee Blog

I`m a parent of three children that attend school in Portland.We have had so many problems with bullies I can`t count them.It seem`s like "if my child" does something,it`s the end of the world.Now, if another child does something to harm my children it`s just horse play or we will look into it...At Portland middle I,myself have spoken to several people about two bullies;my child has talked to teachers about them also.These bullies hit and humiliate other students.They run together and have kid`s afraid of them.NOTHING has been done as far as i can tell.If my child defends his/her self they are kicked out of school,the bully remains.My family has been here three years.We really like Portland,but I don`t plan on us being here after this school year.I know my kid`s are not perfect.but they are not bullies.

I`m a parent of three children that attend school in Portland.We have had so many problems with bullies I can`t count them.It seem`s like "if my child" does something,it`s the end of the world.Now, if another child does something to harm my children it`s just horse play or we will look into it...At Portland middle I,myself have spoken to several people about two bullies;my child has talked to teachers about them also.These bullies hit and humiliate other students.They run together and have kid`s afraid of them.NOTHING has been done as far as i can tell.If my child defends his/her self they are kicked out of school,the bully remains.My family has been here three years.We really like Portland,but I don`t plan on us being here after this school year.I know my kid`s are not perfect.but they are not bullies.

I have been extremely busy, but so far it's been to no avail. I just received a letter from Mr. Butler today. It reads:
__________________________________________________

Dear Ms. Hanners:

In our recent investigation of events on bus 495, we believe that all Sumner County School Board Policies were followed. The preponderance of the evidence pointed to the outcome. The punishment was appropriate for the behavior and we believe the matter to be closed.

The punishment will be purged from the records as we send them to the high school, where your child will start anew in the fall semester.

We appreciate your strength as a parent and your belief that your child was wronged.

We are preparing for final exams and know your efforts will be redirected toward helping your child succeed in that area of our school calendar.

Sincerely,

James S. Butler

CC: Benny Bills
Don Craighead
__________________________________________________

I am so disappointed in this response. There wasn't an investigation. At best, it could be defined as an inquiry. 4 questions, and leading questions at that, does not an investigation make. And to completely disregard all potential witnesses and evidence that could disprove the allegations? And to utilize a previously trusted adult to ATTEMPT to elicit a confession from my daughter - dispicable! And the fact that my daughter denied the allegations WITHOUT over-reacting and getting obnoxious was one of the determining factors they used to decide she was guilty. ??? ( I suspect that if she HAD reacted other than the way she did, they would have questioned why she was getting so defensive and determined THAT was suspicious)

It is not my intention to cause a disruption AT the school and they have made it clear that they have done all they intend to do, so I guess I'll just keep climbing the ladder until I find someone who cares.

Michelle,
I read your letter today in the Progressive. Sounds like you've been busy! Any progress and help from the school system yet?

This article is on msn.com today regarding bullying.
http://men.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4766031>1=9311

Notalwaysfromhere,

Thank you for asking. Last week's meeting was just the start - in the coming months and throughout next year(and in years to come) there will be MANY opportunities to attend meetings, volunteer, etc.

I know everyone has different schedules and various obligations, so just do what you can, when you can. No one has to do everything if everyone does something.

I know this thread won't be on the main page forever, so I am working on a website that will be dedicated to the issue of creating a safer school climate. I will have other items of interest also, but school safety and communication will be the MAIN focus. I will let you know when it is up and running. (maybe in a few weeks????
)

Michelle,
Will there be anymore meetings like the one last Thursday? Really wanted to be there. Thank you for trying to get things done.

Last Thursday's meeting had a low attendance by parents ( around 20, give or take) but the parents that DID come had more questions and suggestions than city and school officials had time to address, so maybe a smaller group was better.

Mr. Butler and Chief West spent time explaining the incident that occurred last month and the steps that were taken after the fact. There are FEDERAL LAWS that restrict certain information from being shared but they gave adequate responses that gave us a clearer understanding without compromising anyone's privacy.

Parents agreed that, as bad as it was, that "not knowing" and rumors were much worse than the reality of what happened. Chief West even said that in reporting the incident to the media, his strictly factual account had caused more concern than he had intended. He also assured us that Portland DOES NOT have gangs. Yes there are some "wannabes" that know the "lingo", signs, colors, etc. but that there is no evidence of any type of "organized gang(s)".

However, bullying is an admitted problem. It is pervasive and it isn't going to “just go away“. Kathy Butler, Middle School Coordinator for Sumner County, said bullying is a problem NATIONWIDE.

There are anti-bullying laws and nationwide initiatives to address bullying, so while this problem isn't unique to Portland, we need to address it with great resolve.

Can bullying be completely eradicated? No.

Can instances, and severity, of bullying be diminished through scientifically based programs that have proven successful in other communities? Absolutely!

Portland is a rapidly growing community, and as it grows, the community is going to be face more and more problems. So the question is: Does the community want to be proactive or reactive? (Personally, I was brought up believing that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.)

Chief West and Mr. Butler both agreed that the Middle School needs an SRO . . . maybe even more than the high school . . . but issues of personnel availability, agency agreements and funding are definitely issues that have to be addressed.

In fact, funding was brought up on several occasions. Chief West, with a light-hearted disclaimer that he wasn't trying to put his superiors on the spot, stated that he is short handed as it is. He supports putting an officer in the schools to teach D.A.R.E., and is actively looking into the proposed program G.R.E.A.T., but that time for training, along with the time to implement these programs in the schools leave him short an officer, not to mention the expense of the materials for the classes.

There was a great deal more that was discussed, but this post is already rather lengthy. OVERALL, it was a positive exchange, but THERE IS STILL A GREAT DEAL MORE TO DO. Please take the opportunity to BECOME INVOLVED. Our children are our future and I can’t think of any greater investment.

I would like to thank the following for their participation:

City - Mayor Ken Wilber, Chief Al West, Officer Jason Williams, Alderman Phil Hobdy, Alderman candidate, Erin McLearan.
Sumner County BOE - Glen Gregory, Board Member and Kathy Butler, Sumner County Middle School Coordinator.
Portland Middle School- Jim Butler, Principal: Barbara Denney, Assistant Principal; Don Craighead, Assistant Principal; Charlotte Lea, Guidance Counselor; PMS teachers. (I apologize for not having their names)
Clyde Riggs Elementary - Steve Hilgadiack, Principal
Parents, Grandparents and Concerned Citizens
Members of the Portland Media
Senator Diane Black- while Senator Black was unable to attend due to previous commitments, she has offered her future assistance. Senator Black not only voted for Anti-bullying legislation, she wrote and carried the bill.

How did the meeting go last night? I was unable to be there.

how are we supposed to get the kids to get along when the sdults can't?

I spoke with Senator Diane Black and she said she not only voted for Tennessee's Anti-Bullying law, but she wrote and carried it. She regrets that she won't be able to come to our meeting on April 12th due to previous commitments, but she wants to know how it goes and has said she would be happy to assist us in any way she can.

She said that if the school's anti-bullying policies aren't working, they should be changed.

HUGS:

While ALL children should be protected from teasing and taunting, (this is called emotional bullying) special needs children have ADDITIONAL protections that are addressed in the ADA. (Americans With Disabilities Act)

I would ALWAYS suggest that you start by making the school aware of any problems your child may be experiencing as soon as you become aware of it and give them the opportunity to remedy the situation. Make a phone call to the PRINCIPAL and then follow up, IN WRITING, with a letter and/or email. (Keep a copy for yourself.)

If this doesn’t resolve the problem, then contact Benny Bills at the Sumner County Board of Education. Additionally, since your child has special needs, you can contact Pupil Services for assistance (ask to speak with your school’s Special Education Coordinator) Both of these offices can be reached by calling 451-5200.

Below are some links for parents of children with special needs:

Wright’s Law (THIS IS MY PERSONAL FAVORITE)
http://www.wrightslaw.com/

S.T.E.P. (Support and Training for Exceptional Parents)
http://www.tnstep.org/index.php

Tennessee Voices For Children
http://www.tnvoices.org/

Disability Law and Advocacy Center
http://www.dlactn.org/content.asp?contentID=31

Let me know if you need any help.

I agree 100%. The Ron Clark Story, starring Matthew Perry, should be on every parent and teachers's "must see" list.

Also, Mr. Clark has written 2 books:

The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child

The Excellent 11: Qualities Teachers and Parents Use to Motivate, Inspire, and Educate Children

Saw A great movie last night, true story about a teacher....thats all I'll say....it is a must see, maybe it will bring clarification to many on what I think a teacher should be....make it a point to see it...

The Ron Clark Story

Here is my post from one of the other threads. It isn't directly related to the "schools" or whatever, but it does involve our children...

"....What bothers me most, and since so many on here like to discuss the safety of our children, is how people let their young children walk around their subdivisions by themselves at all hours of the day. I mean, I see young girls who can't be but 8 or 9 years old, walking by themselves in our neighborhood. Given all the recent headlines about kidnappings and attempted kidnappings, I find this unacceptable.

Or how about parents who send their kids, usually under 11-12 years of age, door to door, unsupervised, to sell things, such as school fundraising items...HELLO!!...do you even know whose houses they are going to? You are sending them out to go up to COMPLETE strangers' doorsteps!!! And you are not watching them!!! Someone spoke below about finding out about a convicted sex offender living in their neigborhood. This is why you supervise your kids, instead of letting them wander about....Parents wise up!!...."

Has anyone else noticed this? Sometimes the kids don't so much as step off the bus before they are going door to door, knocking on the doors of complete strangers!!!

Parents at the middle school have reported that they have asked to sit in on classes and they're requests were denied citing various reasons.
(I do not know this to be a FACT, I am simply reporting what has been said so I will be sure to bring this issue up at the meeting on April 12th)

I personally made the suggestion to Mr. Butler that we could ask parents to volunteer as hall and activity monitors to assist the faculty with extra eyes and ears during less structured times.

Mr. Butler wasn't sure whether or not he could allow that. He wasn't against it, he simply thought that the "red tape" would be prohibiting.

So, I followed up with the Sumner County Board of Education, and after a few phone calls, it was determined that we COULD have parents in the school, monitoring the hallways (with walkie talkies) as long as:
1. The principal agreed to it.
2. We signed in and out (just like we do anytime we visit the school)
3. We have badges identifying what we were there for.
4. That we could not be in a one-on-one situation with the students.(ie. individual tutoring, etc.) All contact with students must be confined to group settings or under the DIRECT supervision of a teacher.

In order to tutor, you MUST:

1. Fill out an application
2. Get a recommendation from the principal
3. Submit to fingerprinting and a background check.

Everything sounds good on this board, but the problems are with the parents that dont care if there kids have good grades or if they even go to school. I have been over to the high school on many occasions and have heard phone calls between teachers and parents and I cant believe what some of the parents say. Its like they dont care if little Johnny cussed the teacher or didnt take a test. Its always the teachers fault. I think most parents care and are active in their childs education, but its the few thats not is where all the problems start. I believe that every parent should have to sit in the classroom at least twice a year in their childs class. I know that will never happen, but I think that would do wonders for education.

Unfortunately, there isn't a “quick fix” for this issue. The meeting on April 12th at 7pm in the Portland Middle School auditorium is a great beginning though. There HAS been a major communication breakdown and that’s what we are seeking to remedy that by bringing ALL the key players (parents, school, city and community) to the table AT THE SAME TIME.

We need complaints to become aware of problems, but we need suggestions to help come up with SOLUTIONS. And solutions are not FREE. Some cost money, some cost time and effort, some cost the willingness to change attitudes, but they all cost something. And whether it’s a problem or a solution, it’s not JUST the parents, or JUST the schools, or JUST law enforcement, or JUST the kids, or JUST anyone for that matter. It’s up to ALL of us.

Some specific issues that I KNOW we will be talking about are:

Volunteer Opportunities for Parents - different schools have different needs and rules, so it’s not ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

We will define BULLYING AND HARASSMENT so you will know what to look, and listen for.

What if my child is a victim?
What if my child is a bully?
What if my child is "just" a bystander?

Policies and Procedures for reporting problems.
What to expect when you DO report a problem. Your rights and responsibilities.

When you should, and procedures for, reporting problems to the police and/or filing petitions yourself.

G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) ***This is VERY PROMISING***
It has both an elementary AND middle school component, it can be taught in conjunction with DARE and it teaches children SKILLS that they can start using IMMEDIATELY. And it provides opportunities OUTSIDE of the classroom for special activities and parent involvement.

After Jody and I spoke, I did some research on it and Assistant Chief, Richard Smith is looking into it's possibilities. We will have more info at the meeting. In the meantime, you can visit their website at: http://www.great-online.org/

How to keep the lines of communication open with our children, our schools and other parents. Did anyone know that we don’t have a PTO at the Middle School?

Community Resources

After school , weekend and summer activities available for our children. Not ALL of them are school related.

Partnering with private industry to meet some of our financial needs.

Other MAJOR safety issues that aren’t appropriate to discuss on the blog.

Hope to see (and hear) you there!

And remember, if you can’t be there, or if you don’t like talking in front of crowds, I will be more than happy to present your concerns and suggestions on your behalf. Just post them here or email me at:
michellehanners@yahoo.com

I think a BIG part of the problem begins in elementary school. There is NO communication what so ever in our schools. Starting in elementary school, UNLESS it has to do w/a fundraiser/money. My child has brought home 4 letters from school in 9 weeks. 3 were asking for money, one was a note about getting into trouble. I do not think she would have gotten into trouble IF she has not been AFRAID to tell what was happening! When I ask her why she did not tell, her exact response to me was "momma, they tell us that they do not like tattle tells". So WHY would our children tell a teachers or parent what is going on when like SG said, they are being taught from elem. school NOT TO BE TATLE TELLS!!!! And if our children KNOW that there is no communication w/teacher/parents, WHY not hit a kid for whatever reason, I know that that child will not TATTLE TELL on me, and I KNOW that my parents will not be notified with anything more than a letter home…hum…lets see, if the student decided to sign the letter himself, and not bother his parents with it…how will they ever know?? And usually the parents will not know until something really bad happens, and then they wonder why it happened, and how it could happen!
I think it is up to the schools to have better communications that they do, starting as soon as grade K. I think the k-5 needs more activities open to the younger children also, not just to the 4th and 5th graders. Get the children involved in clubs ASAP, not just sports! I think they need to bring in more parent volunteers and use them if need be. Do not just send out notes to parents just when its time for reading club (during school help with certain kids) or when its time to be a proctor for testing! Have parents to begin a book club that meets once a month for our school children, a newspaper club, there is a lot of things parents could do/run if the school would let them.
BUT all these changes EVERYONE is talking about, REQIURES parents get involved, not just typing on the blog, or fussing, or sending letters, etc.. It means going to your child school, asking questions-if you want to know why something happens, go ask someone until you find out. Do not be afraid to ask, to sit in the office until you can talk to whomever you need to talk to. Talk to your child and their teachers! SIT IN YOUT CHILDS CLASSROOM FOR AN ENTIRE DAY! How many parents have done that??? See what all these teachers have to deal with on a daily basis! From fundraisers, parents, kids who have no lunch, the different level of learning per kids (i.e. reading), paperwork, misbehavior, etc...Teachers have a lot to deal with, along w/their personal life, and yes teachers do have a personal life that they deserve. Go talk to your child’s teachers; see that they are human too!
Go sit in your child’s class room, see who your child is becoming friends with, see what they do and deal with everyday. See what your child’s grades are, what they need help on.
I do thank God everyday for the wonderful, caring, loving teachers my kids have! I have been VERY blessed with mine this year!
No, I am NOT a teacher; I am a PARENT who HAS sat in the classroom all day, more than once. I am very involved in my child’s classroom. Not just for parties or field trips, but for ar test, help students read in the hall way, with math, cutting, glueing..whatever the teacher needs. It helps me to see who my child plays with, how they play, how the school is run, how the teachers handle things that come up along with everyday things. I hear the announcements over the loud speaker, and that’s a good thing, because if I did not, I would have NO clue as to what is going on in that school. I am not happy with the way the schools seem to be running in Portland, but I do what I can by being in the school. Maybe if more parents would get involved, and demand some answers, we could change thus and maybe stop some of it in elementary school, where it does begains! But it will take effort on parents to do this!

I found this site to have some good information regarding bullying...
http://www.squidoo.com/preventbullying

I don't know how much of a "fix" it may be, but I spoke with Mrs. Hanners the other day and told her about a program I was aware of called G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education Program) It is taught to elementary and middle school students in the same way D.A.R.E. is done. Actually i think it was started by some of the same folks. This is something that we, the city leaders, could support by having one of our police officers trained to provide this course to our local schools. It will cost some money, but hey, we spend it in other areas, and our kids are woth it all. All it takes is 7 votes and a willing officer to get it done. So ladies and gentlemen call your councilmen!

Also, the middle school seems very limited in its extra curricular activities available to the children. My children participate in a good part of what is available such as PAWS, Beta, FCA... but I think more sports and such would be beneficial to the students as well. It would seem that those that are more involved in school activities may have less time to "get into trouble." I was glad volleyball came to the middle school (even though I did not have a child participating). It seems as though there are more female related sports than male, but I just may not be aware of what is available. I believe baseball would be great! Expand the DARE and Just Say No clubs to make students more aware of the potential dangers around them, especially at this age. Maybe these two clubs in particular could have an overwhelming effect on this age group if they just knew how to put the message out there better to where it would hit home with the kids.
On another point, children are always told not to be "tattle tales" when younger and the teachers and staff at the school needs to make them aware that it is "OK to tattle" when bullying is seen or heard and assured that the child's identity is protected (from the other children) if they do come forward.
Are the teachers always in the hallways when classes are changing? I am not sure if they are or not, but if not, then definitely needs to be mandatory.

I agree with SG about better communication.

Here is something to chew on as well, maybe what we could think about doing is starting earlier when it comes to dealing with this issue, on the elementary school level. Seems to me if we at least think about this, we may be able to come up with a sort of pre-emptive way to deal with this before it gets to the Middle School level. I think we would be naive to think we can totally eliminate problems, but we could certainly make an impact.

I believe everyone should be held accountable when certain things happen, if your child is mis-behaving in some way, you (the parent) should be made aware and held accountable to deal with this. Also, if this is happening in the classroom or schoolhouse setting it seems to me the school staff would need to also intervene.

I remember as a child being mercilessly bullied in school, many times with the teachers standing right there, when I would cry for help...they would look the other way. Little Rock Arkansas schools for ya!!!

I was raised in a very poor family, and I did not have the best cloths or shoes to wear, there were times the teacher....THE TEACHER! would pull me up in front of the class and make fun of me while I stood at the front of the classroom with all of the kids laughing at me. I could go on and on, but I will stop there. I don't reveal all of this to seek sympathy, I have actually done quite well with my life. I say all I have said to simply say this....Sometimes those who are supposed to be part of the solution.....are part of the problem.

Our task is figuring out which is which!

First of all, I would like to commend Michelle for taking a stand and going beyond the call of duty to try to get parents involved in what do do about the middle school issues.
It is my understanding that the school has already taken some steps to try to see where some issues stand and I am happy with these beginning steps. Stopping the bullying issue is a tricky one and I wish I had some recommendations as to how to handle that, but at this time I do not. Better teacher/parent communication also needs addressed and I believe a school website that is kept current would be a huge help.