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 …
Friday, April 12, 2013
Grace McComas, 15, was a Glenelg High School sophomore.
A bill known as “Grace’s Law,” inspired by a 15-year-old Howard County teen who committed suicide on Easter Sunday in 2012, would make it a crime to bully someone repeatedly online, according to the Baltimore Sun. McComas’s parents told media outlets that she was harassed online for months before her death. Grace’s suicide resulted in an outcry of condemnation against bullying. Her friends wore blue – Grace’s favorite color – at her funeral, and went on to wear “Blue4Grace” to make visible their stance against bullying. Howard County Republican Allan Kittleman sponsored the Senate version of the bill, which was introduced by Baltimore County Democrat Rep. John Cardin. Last week, the Senate approved the bill, which Kittleman called “…
Wednesday, April 3, 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…
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Find out how your teen can participate in talks about bullying.
There will be a series of forums on bullying in March hosted by the Howard County public school system to talk about how it is affecting the overall school climate. Each of the four forums are for high school and middle school students, and the sessions are limited to 50 students each. (Students can sign up here.) The forums will be facilitated by student leaders and school officials will use the information to inform an anti-bullying task force. A waiting area for parents will be available at the events; however, they are just for students, school officials said. The forums are scheduled on the following dates and schools: Thursday, March 7, 6:30-8 p.m. - Elkridge Landing Middle School Thursday, March 14, 6:30-8 p.m. - Reservoir High …
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Is bullying really worse than it used to be? If it is, should we blame the Internet?
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 …
Friday, September 28, 2012
The Mall in Columbia to screen film 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, and Saturday, Oct. 6.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Mark Harvey was a man with a message at Sunday night's Ravens game.
The cameras cut away before Mark Harvey ran around the field during Sunday night's Ravens game against the Patriots, but that doesn't mean his antics went unnoticed. Here they are recorded by fans as Harvey ran around the field wearing a cape and tight-fitting short shorts. On his chest, he had painted "Don't be a bully, be a superhero." According to the Baltimore Sun, 26-year-old Harvey is from Severn. Baltimore police removed Harvey from the field on Sunday, and officials said they would have more information later Monday on charges. Harvey previously gained notoriety after he ran onto the field at Camden Yards during an Orioles game on April 9 and proceeded to run around the entire outfield, before being restrained by security, …
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
County executive, school system, bar association sponsoring film screening at The Mall in Columbia on bullying in schools.
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. County Executive Ken Ulman announced the screening of the film—which is only showing at select theaters—in a prepared statement Tuesday. “We, as a community, must pay attention to the children in our schools who are potentially vulnerable to feeling unsafe and unprotected,” said Ulman in the statement. “As a parent, I happily participated in this initiative to raise awareness of an unfortunate reality in our society and to help ensure …
AML
2:01 pm on Monday, May 6, 2013
Whatever happened to "STICKS & STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES BUT WORDS WILL NEVER HURT ME"? Kids need to stick up for themselves and not get bullied. They should have their family & friends help them. My boy was getting picked on by a very much larger boy and my kid turned around and punched him in the stomach. That kid never bothered my boy again and this was when he was 11 years old. I not saying … more ›