With the click of the “send” button, a Langley student being bullied can report it any time, day or night, anonymously, and school district administration’s smartphones will ding, in real time, letting them know.
“I will get the message immediately and it is up to us to deal with it,” said Langley school district assistant superintendent Claire Guy.
“So far we have had zero reports since its launch two weeks ago.”
Guy is talking about the province’s “Erase Bullying” website and 10-point strategy they launched two weeks ago, allowing kids to report bullying.
During the Erase Bullying Summit held in Vancouver recently, Education Minister Don McRae provided an update on the province’s strategy, which included the launch of ERASEBullying.ca and ReportBullyingBC.ca.The new website provides information, links and tips for parents and students while the new online reporting tool provides students with a secure and anonymous way to report instances of bullying, threats and other safety concerns.
Trustee Cecilia Reekie asked that administration provide updates on the reporting tool, to see if students are using it.
Trustee Rod Ross is impressed with the Walnut Grove Secondary student-initiative Power to Stay Away (from bullying). The program has seen success there and Ross would like to see it implemented in every school.
Trustees also asked that costs for the province-directed Erase Bullying program be made known.