Fairfax Public Schools: Bullying and Violence (Dale City, Woodbridge: middle school, versus, activities)

[alex...]

I know this is a very subjective and emotional subject, but I am trying to get a sense of the level of these activities in the public schools in Fairfax county.

What steps to schools take to reduce such activity? Are there any schools where this behavior is more or less than normal? Do cliques tend to lead to such behavior in certain schools? Have any parents faced problems like this, and what were their experiences in getting assistance from the school administration?

[dragons]

You see less of the bullying the further west in Fairfax you are. I've found the schools east of I95 (EX....West Potomac HS and Garfield HS) tend to have more of these issues. However, Fairfax takes the bullying situations seriously and they have focused alot of attention in prevention and punishment. But with any school system you will have "cliques".

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by dragons

You see less of the bullying the further west in Fairfax you are. I've found the schools east of I95 (EX....West Potomac HS and Garfield HS) tend to have more of these issues. However, Fairfax takes the bullying situations seriously and they have focused alot of attention in prevention and punishment. But with any school system you will have "cliques".

Just out of curiosity what would have put you in the position to evaluate the level of bullying in so many places? I can tell you there's very little at West Potomac. I'm not familiar with a Garfield HS around here. Exactly what part of Fairfax County East of I-95 is that in?

[dragons]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Just out of curiosity what would have put you in the position to evaluate the level of bullying in so many places? I can tell you there's very little at West Potomac. I'm not familiar with a Garfield HS around here. Exactly what part of Fairfax County East of I-95 is that in?

I do work in just about every school in Northern VA, DC, and MD and have witnessed some of this bullying/teasing first hand while in the schools. By no means am I saying eastern fairfax is on scale with DC or Mont Co. MD as far as violence and bullying but talking with instructors at these schools there is more issues there versus schools in the western part of the county. My apologies I had meant to say Hayfield SS not Garfield HS (Prince William). No matter though....where ever you go there is always bullies and cliques.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by dragons

No matter though....where ever you go there is always bullies and cliques.

I can say from firsthand observation that this is much less of a problem than with earlier generations. It's just about the last thing I'd worry about in selecting a school in Fairfax County. They do a very good job of dealing with it in the earlier grades so it isn't as much of a problem later on.

[ReadytoRetire]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Just out of curiosity what would have put you in the position to evaluate the level of bullying in so many places? I can tell you there's very little at West Potomac. I'm not familiar with a Garfield HS around here. Exactly what part of Fairfax County East of I-95 is that in?

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Garfield in not in Fairfax county, it is in PWC (Prince William County)in the Dale City/Woodbridge area

[dragons]

Originally Posted by ReadytoRetire

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Garfield in not in Fairfax county, it is in PWC (Prince William County)in the Dale City/Woodbridge area

I corrected myself in a prior post.

[CAVA1990]

Isn't it Gar-Field? Always wondered why the hyphen. Can anyone enlighten?

[choff5]

Originally Posted by alex...

I know this is a very subjective and emotional subject, but I am trying to get a sense of the level of these activities in the public schools in Fairfax county.

What steps to schools take to reduce such activity? Are there any schools where this behavior is more or less than normal? Do cliques tend to lead to such behavior in certain schools? Have any parents faced problems like this, and what were their experiences in getting assistance from the school administration?

I am curious what brought up this particular question, especially in the middle of the summer, and yes, it is a subjective subject. As to how it is addressed, every student, definitely in elementary school, and I believe also in at least middle school, have at least two lessons dealing with bullying and harrassment as part of their Student Rights and Responsibility lessons every year. They are to be completed early in the year, and sometimes are reviewed later, by the counselors. This is not a lesson that can be opted out of but must be included since it is considered SR&R. As for what happens throughout the school year, ask at the particular school in question. Many have programs in place, and address it as needed. The biggest issue many times is staff KNOWING about it as we all know, the students tell us, that it occurs when the adults aren't around, and if the targets and especially the bystanders don't act on it, then it's hard to deal with as an after thought.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Isn't it Gar-Field? Always wondered why the hyphen. Can anyone enlighten?

[SIZE=2]Gar-Field Senior High School was founded on December 7, 1953. Students had been attending high school at Occoquan District High since 1928. (This school is currently Occoquan Elementary School, and is located at the corner of Old Bridge Road and Occoquan Road.) The new High School was built on the corner of Cardinal Drive and Route 1. Mr. Grover Manderfield, a local businessman, and Mr. Gilmer Garber, a local farmer, donated 20 acres of land to use as a high school. The School Board voted to name the high school after these two gentlemen. "Gar" was for Mr. Garber and "Field" was for Mr. Manderfield, using a hyphen to separate the names.

Gar-Field Alumni
[/SIZE]