Wednesday, May 1, 2013
There are several efforts underway in Howard County to combat bullying.
Children and parents in Howard County will soon have access to a desktop or mobile app to report bullying anonymously online as it happens. The California-based company that make Sprigeo.com, the bullying reporting app, has donated it to Howard County so it can be used for free among its residents, according to a county news release. The app is part of a larger program in Howard County to deal with the issue of bullying, which has made headlines after Howard County’s 15-year-old Grace McComas committed suicide on Easter Sunday in 2012 following what the Baltimore Sun called nearly a year of “electronic torment.” Statewide, “Grace’s Law,” scheduled to be signed into law this week by Gov. Martin O’Malley, makes it a misdemeanor to harass …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Rice will appear at Wegmans Columbia to host a special fundraising event for two charities.
Is Wegmans in Columbia becoming a new hub for celebrity appearances? Last week, it was announced celebrity chef Bobby Flay will be signing copies of his barbecue book. Now, Wegmans announced the star running back of the Baltimore Ravens, Ray Rice, will appear at the grocery store on April 11. Rice is scheduled to appear from 5 to 7 p.m. to host a conversation and question and answer session. Tickets cost $100 each, with proceeds going to one of two charities: The Ray Rice Charitable Foundation (which focuses on anti-bullying) or the Arc of Howard County (a local charity that helps people with developmental and intellectual disabilities). According to information provided by Wegmans, Rice will meet with attendees and take photos 5:45 to 7 p…
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Is bullying really worse than it used to be? If it is, should we blame the Internet?
The Columbia story of Noah Brocklebank has gained national attention as the latest high-profile story about bullying. That often prompts the question from Patch readers: Is bullying really worse than it used to be? If it is, should we blame the Internet? There’s no consensus among experts on those questions, but there is consensus that 1) bullying is a huge problem that’s only beginning to be addressed, and 2) new forms of bullying require new forms of support. Once people understand the scale of the problem, they usually have a new question: How can I help? The scale of the bullying problem About 18 percent of U.S. students said they are afraid that someone will hurt or bother them at school, according to a survey on youth risk behavior …
Monday, February 11, 2013
After Karen Brocklebank's son threatened to kill himself, she asked for support on social media and it came, in droves.
On Jan. 28, Karen Brocklebank wrote the first post on the Letters for Noah Facebook Page. The post described how her son was dealing with depression caused by bullying on social media sites and in his Howard County middle school. "This past weekend he posted on his Instagram account that he was planning to commit suicide on his birthday," wrote Brocklebank. "He also posted images of his arm where he has been cutting himself for the past two months." She was inspired to write about Noah's condition after sitting in the emergency room at his bed, where police had taken him after hearing about the Instagram post. "Noah has been dealing with bullying for the past year," wrote Brocklebank. "He has been feeling alone and left out, ostracized …
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The county executive, school system and bar association to show movie on bullying culture at The Mall in Columbia.
Howard County government, educators and lawyers are sponsoring a showing of Bully at The Mall in Columbia this fall. The film, a 2011 documentary about children’s experiences with bullying in school, will be screened for adults over the age of 18 on Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 at the AMC Theatre in Columbia mall. When asked about the decision not to allow younger teenagers to view the film, Howard County spokesperson Kevin Enright said the following in an email: That was discussed--a lot. But there are lots of logistic issues with allowing teens into an R rated movie, and the school system requested that these screenings be focused on parents and adults education. County Executive Ken Ulman announced the screening of the film—which is only …
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The security coordinator for the Howard County Public School System said each school will have the capacity to look into Facebook, Twitter situations.
As school starts in Howard County, so does a new program to investigate online threats to students. Kevin Burnett, coordinator of security for the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS), said that a staff member at each school has been authorized to look into potential situations arising out of social media. Previously, all staff at HCPSS institutions were firewalled from using social media sites, said Burnett. “If there’s a rumor that something is on Facebook or Twitter, that security officer is going to have bypass access to pull that information up and conduct an investigation,” said Burnett in a phone interview with Patch. “That’s relatively new based on a meeting last year at Howard [High]," said Burnett. He was referencing an …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
"You're not alone in this world," the Baltimore Ravens running back told victims of bullying at a Ray of Light event in Ellicott City.
Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice had his own problems as a kid, which might have made his words at an anti-bullying event especially poignant. In the attendance was the family of Grace McComas, the 15-year-old Glenelg student who took her own life on Easter after constant harassment in school and on social media. Rice was at Howard High School Saturday to speak at Ray of Light, an anti-bullying event organized by Howard County Councilman Calvin Ball after two Howard County students committed suicide this school year. "To think about somebody getting picked on and somebody losing their life–that really struck a nerve in my body, in my soul and eveything that I stand for," Rice told the crowd of more than 300 students, parents…
Monday, May 7, 2012
"You're not alone in this world," the Baltimore Ravens running back told victims of bullying at a Ray of Light event in Ellicott City.
Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice had his own problems as a kid, which might have been what made what he said at an anti-bullying event especially poignant. In the audience was the family of Grace McComas, the 15-year-old Glenelg student who took her own life on Easter after constant harassment in school and on social media. Rice was at Howard High School Saturday to address a Ray of Light anti-bullying event organized by Howard County Councilman Calvin Ball after two Howard County students committed suicide this school year. "To think about somebody getting picked on and somebody losing their life–that really struck a nerve in my body in my soul and eveything that I stand for," Rice told the crowd of more than 300 students, …
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
A "freeze mob" on Tuesday at Howard High was one of several events aimed at bringing awareness to the emotionally charged topic.
After Glenelg student Grace McComas, 15, killed herself on Easter Sunday, her friends began a movement called "Blue4Grace" in which they wore blue at her wake to take a stand against bullying. Grace's parents said she was harassed online for months, according to The Baltimore Sun. "Can children not take a minute and realize they’re killing each other over petty things?" wrote one commenter on the Blue4Grace page. Students at Howard High School took more than a minute on Tuesday. Time stood still between second and third periods as they collectively paused during what is called a "freeze mob" while the song "Lean on Me" played. The demonstration is one of several events in Howard County over the next two weeks to combat bullying. “Our …
A "freeze mob" on Tuesday at Howard High was one of several events aimed at bringing awareness to the emotionally charged topic.
After Glenelg student Grace McComas, 15, killed herself on Easter Sunday, her friends began a movement called "Blue4Grace" in which they wore blue at her wake to take a stand against bullying. Grace's parents said she was harassed online for months, according to The Baltimore Sun. "Can children not take a minute and realize they’re killing each other over petty things?" wrote one commenter on the Blue4Grace page. Students at Howard High School took more than a minute on Tuesday. Time stood still between second and third periods as they collectively paused during what is called a "freeze mob" while the song "Lean on Me" played. The demonstration is one of several events in Howard County over the next two weeks to combat bullying. Eugene …
JLeland
2:18 pm on Wednesday, April 3, 2013
$100 per ticket? Seriously? more ›