District Sees Disparities in Bullying Reporting
Of 192 incidents reported, 79 were deemed bullying.
Montville Township school district officials say they plan to schedule new training sessions for school administrators to be sure they are approaching bullying reports in a consistent way after the district saw significant differences in the number of reports coming from schools.
Cedar Hill School had 56 reported incidents of possibile harrassment, intimidation or bullying since September, while Woodmont School had eight.
Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried said in some cases there may be a tendency for teachers to "over-report" because an anti-bullying law that went into effect this school year makes reporting incidents a legal responsibility for school employees and defines a single instance of a student being insulted as bullying.
Fried said in some cases the age of the students may need to be given more weight, such as with younger students.
"We can all agree the intent of the law is a good thing," he said. "The intent over time is that the culture of the school changes and bullying and intimidation are no longer acceptable, and each school is supposed to be working in that direction."
The district is waiting to see what changes will be made to the anti-bullying law in light of the Council on Local Mandates ruling that the law, as it stands, is unconsitutional because it's an "unfunded mandate" for schools.
Montville Township Public Schools Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Mid-Year Report Sept. 1, 2011, to Jan. 24, 2012
| School | Number of HIB Incidents | Number Deemed HIB | Number Deemed Non-HIB | Percent Deemed HIB |
| Cedar Hill | 56 | 14 | 42 | 25% |
| Hilldale | 23 | 5 | 18 | 22% |
| Valley View | 17 | 5 | 12 | 29% |
| William Mason | 14 | 10 | 4 | 71% |
| Woodmont | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% |
| Lazar Middle School | 28 | 13 | 15 | 46% |
| MTHS | 46 | 31 | 15 | 67% |
| Totals | 192 | 79 | 113 | 41% |
Hours Devoted to HIB
| School | Anti-Bullying Specialist | Principal/Administrator |
| Cedar Hill | 180 | 50 |
| Hilldale | 110 | 44 |
| Valley View | 60 | 60 |
| William Mason | 130 | 25 |
| Woodmont | 80 | 10 |
| Lazar Middle School | 100 | 40 |
| MTHS | 150 | 50 |
| Assistant Superintendent | 30 | |
| Superintendent | 20 | |
| Totals | 810 | 329 |
In This article
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Cedar Hill Elementary School
46 Pine Brook Rd, Towaco, NJ -
Hilldale Elementary School
123 Konner Ave, Pine Brook, NJ -
Valley View Elementary School
30 Montgomery Ave, Montville, NJ -
William Mason Elementary School
5 Shawnee Trl, Montville, NJ -
Woodmont Elementary School
39 Woodmont Rd, Pine Brook, NJ -
Robert R. Lazar Middle School
123 Changebridge Rd, Montville, NJ
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Montville Township High School
100 Horseneck Rd, Montville, NJ -
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Montville Township Board of Education
86 River Rd, Montville, NJ
Andie
11:26 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
This is ridiculous! There are 5 year olds who are deemed bullies for calling names like, "baby."
wally
12:47 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
true, I've seen where someone was cited for bullying because they told another that they had ugly shoes. I think this is wasting a lot of valuable time and money
Andie
9:05 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
The real BULLY is the CEDAR HILL school. They have children SIGN statements that they are bullies, without their parents being there. But, can a six year old even read???? It is out of control!!!!
Maxim Sapozhnikov
9:20 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
Just instruct your child to keep silent or plead the Fifth, regardless of what they are asked, unless they are the victims. My kids watch enough Law & Order to know what it means. Anyone to ask them a question after that without me or my wife present will answer to the court of law.
Carol
3:48 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
There are kids who are hitting and bullying in elementary schools and not being properly disciplined. Bullies do not just show up one day in high school, they start somewhere.
Andie
9:02 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
Oh yeah, well it is the school administration is the reall BULLY, who is conducting witch hunts on children who are calling names like," baby." I know from first hand experience the Cedar Hill guidance counsellors are looking for trouble where there is none. They literally have sit downs with the guidance counsellor, where she asks what was bad this week. Then the counsellor calls the parent to say, "your daughter is upset the boys didn't play ball with her." Who cares? Or during the "session", "your son complains his big brother picks on him." Now I tell my kids don't tell them ANYTHING.
Vinnie
7:43 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
It is the responsibility of the administration to ensure that a standard is set evenly across all schools. To have one school acting one way and another in another way is irresponsible. "Over reporting" is a lawyered-up response to incompetence. What is the emotional cost of the 42 (More than all the other elementary schools combined) Non-HIB incidents on the kids and families at Cedar Hill? I'm sure it is pretty high.
Andie
9:03 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
The Cedar Hill parents hate this system, believe me. I can't wait until my kid is OUT OF THERE.
Maxim Sapozhnikov
7:44 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
Hasn't that stupid law been invalidated as an unconstitutional mandate?