News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
White County Schools working to combat new and evolving forms of bullying with the ‘Move To Stand’ program.
White County Family Resource Director Beverly Dronebarger said the system is training students to be aware of the power of words and actions. Dronebarger said they also hope to inspire students to take an active stand against bullying they may witness.
“In recent years I would say really we have seen an uptick in some bullying incidences,” Dronebarger said. “I think a lot of that has to do with social media. Kids have access to a lot of means that they didn’t have before.”
Where bullying used to be a more in-person problem, Dronebarger said that the program is also attempting to address social media bullying. A nationwide survey showed at least 40 percent of students had been bullied in the last 30 days. Dronebarger said that the anonymity of social media, as well as 24-hour phone access, influences this issue.
Dronebarger said after facing several incidences regarding this kind of behavior, the school system wants to get in front of the problem.
“I wouldn’t say it’s been an ongoing problem,” Dronebarger said. “I think that absolutely we’re trying to be proactive to put it out in front of kids before it becomes a problem.”
Dronebarger said the program began last year with White County began training middle and high school students for ‘Move To Stand.’
“I feel like it’s been successful absolutely,” Dronebarger said. “I myself have a daughter who is ten and she went through the program last year and just through those situations I was able to have good conversations with her following up with that.”
Dronebarger said that student access to phones at school and sometimes lack of parental supervision at home can contribute to the issue. Dronebarger said that this form of bullying has not totally replaced more traditional forms, but adds another aspect.
Dronebarger said ‘Move To Stand’ is offered by STARS Nashville, which also has other programs addressing similar issues.
