Anonymous bullying-reporting system at work in Cape schools

Even while tackling differentiated instruction, standardized testing and higher standards, one of the biggest challenges school districts face involves something much more personal to students. Bullying is a reality for far too many of our young people, and the adults they entrust with their safety owe it to them to find a way to handle that problem.

In an ideal world, bullying would be a thing of the past. But reality is far more cruel, and reality dictates taking a hard look at how to deal with those unpleasant things that simply do not go away without a fight. So until the unlikely day when bullying is spoken of only in the past tense, something must be done, some system devised, and some progress made.

The Cape Girardeau School District is a model for dealing with the reality of bullying. So simple as to easily be overlooked, it involves what most young people require when faced with the possibility of "snitching" on peers engaged in bullying tactics: anonymity.

Central Junior High School counselors Ed Draper and Julie Janzow created an anonymous reporting system that the junior high implemented last fall and was espoused districtwide in February. Because each student has a computer, access to the system is right at his or her fingertips. And because they are not required to identify themselves, reporting that they or someone else is being bullied is easier. Said Janzow, "We have a lot of kids who don't want to be seen in our office. And they don't want to be associated with that 'I'm telling' or 'I'm snitching.' We were just trying to come up with a way for it to be more private, more anonymous, so students could feel comfortable to reach out to us."

Mission accomplished. More than 100 incidents have been reported, leading to investigation, student counseling, meetings with parents, and, sometimes, help from safety officers. That's more than 100 incidents that may never have been handled prior to such an anonymous system. Who knows how much fear, heartache and violence this has averted?

We tip our hats to the Cape School District for recognizing that quality education not only engages students' brains, but, also fosters their peace of mind.