Anti-Bullying Summit Held for America's Kids

By: Amanda Cochran
Topics: Elementary School ,; High School ,; College ,; Middle School

Family photo of Phoebe Nora Mary Prince, 15, who committed suicide on January 14.

(Credit: Family photo)

NEW YORK (CBS)The Department of Education held its first-ever anti-bullying summit on Wednesday and Thursday in Washington. The goal of the summit was to engage governmental and non-governmental partners in crafting a national strategy to reduce and end bullying.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan opened the two-day summit Wednesday on the dangers of bullying inside and outside the classroom.

Bullying has long been an issue in schools, but in recent years - with the accessibility of texting and the Internet - the problem has grown. In fact the issue of bullying garnered national attention after the deaths of students like 15-year-old Phoebe Prince of Massachusetts who took her own life last January allegedly in response to constant harassment and bullying from some of her classmates.

At the summit, Duncan and other panel participants spoke about the need to be vigilant in their schools and communities and address bullying if they see or hear about it.

But what can parents do to stop bullying behavior or detect if their child is being bullied?

CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton recommends parents look for these potential indicators in their child:

-Comes home with torn or damaged clothing or missing belongings

-Has unexplained cuts or bruises

-Seems afraid of going to school, riding the bus or participating in activities

-Drop in school grades

-Complains often of physical ailments

-Has trouble sleeping or loss of appetite.

Check out Ashton's complete column on this issue for more helpful tips.

Has your child ever been bullied? What did you do to stop it?

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by HollyBeck August 27, 2010 7:14 PM EDT: How do we start to eliminate bullying now at our child's school? Here is how I am trying to help.

I am the author of a new children's realistic fiction book, REVENGE OF THE DORKOIDS (Windy City Publishers) release date Oct. 15, 2010

This story follows a series of funny, not dangerous, pranks as 3 sixth grade boys stand up against their school bullies. Research proven responses are modeled, and have discussion questions in the back

I am offering an easy way to get an anti bullying culture started or strengthened at your school. Building an anti bully school culture is the best proven way to end school bullying.

Your school can run the REVENGE OF THE DORKOIDS READ AND DRAW POSTER CONTEST. This takes advantage of the powerful technique of exploring an issue through reading and discussion, then internalizing it through drawing an 8 X 10 Poster.

Learn more at www.dorkoids.com beginning Sept 1, 2010

You no longer have to wait for someone else to do something. You can do this without being an expert or needing training. It is easy. It will help. I guarantee it.; Reply to this comment


by jw5745 August 13, 2010 7:44 PM EDT: There is nothing new about bullying. What is new is the proliferation of mama's boys in our culture.; Reply to this comment


by caresaboutpeople August 13, 2010 1:46 PM EDT: I was pleased to see a long overdue summit. One major area that I think is vastly overlooked is cyberbullying. That is where much of the bullying is going and the affects can be devastating. I support freedom of speech, but freedom of speech does not mean the freedom to cyberbully or host sexual predators which is happening more and more. Kids are committing suicide over cyberbullying.

In particular, I am extremely bothered by the company called Topix. They have forums in every city and town in America and the forums do not require registration of any kind meaning people (kids in particular) can be attacked instantly. The company recently claimed it was going to clean up its forums and work with Attorney Generals but let's just say the forums are worse than ever. They will never do anything because they are profiting from people's misery as are other companies as well. For some reason the media seems terrified to talk about what Topix is getting away probably because Topix is partially owned by Tribune, McClatchy, and Gannett major newspaper companies that apparently have no problem with cyberbullying and complete garbage.; Reply to this comment