Bullying

Iowa Found To Be Underreporting School Bullying.

The Quad-City Times (6/13, Wiser) reports that "four years after lawmakers approved a sweeping anti-bullying law, school officials across" Iowa "appear to be underreporting or flat-out ignoring student harassment in their hallways." After reviewing the figures, Iowa Department of Education Director Jason Glass remarked, "The low numbers you have here, that are unbelievably low, really, we can't stand behind those. Clearly, we have more work to do in trying to improve understanding on what bullying is."

Bullying Said To Start On Social Networking Sites.

The Quad-City Times (6/13, Martens, Luna) reports that according to local school officials, "it is becoming more common" for bullying to begin on social media sites. Pleasant Valley superintendent Jim Seplhaug noted that the "freewheeling' nature of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, coupled with a feeling of anonymity, can sometimes make students uninhibited about what they post online." In addition, these "sites are capable of transmitting information quickly, which also can aggravate the problem."

Gay-Straight Alliance Said To Help Improve School's Atmosphere.

The Quad-City Times (6/13, Wind) reports, "Concern over bullying was the catalyst for starting Waterloo West High School's Gay-Straight Alliance six years ago," and "Carolyn Braley, the group's staff adviser, sees less of the behavior in the school's hallways and classrooms than at one time, a change she credits in part to the alliance's presence." In addition, "the alliance includes educational, social and fundraising components that are helping to change attitudes."