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Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, in partnership with the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center, recently hosted a Train-the-Trainer workshop for administrators and teachers to provide educators with research-based techniques to prevent and address bullying, including cyberbullying.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, it serves as a reminder that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one in five high school students reported being bullied at school this year. This workshop helps teachers, administrators and officers to identify signs of bullying, especially when it is with a conscious intent to hurt another child, that could have a severe impact in or outside of the classroom.
 Some of the signs that parents and educators need to watch out for are:
·         Children appearing upset or mad when they are online
·         Changes in the time they usually spend in the computer
·         Becoming anxious or avoiding social situations
·         Changing the screen or turning off the computer when someone walks       by
·         Unexplained drop in grades
Along with the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC), Middlesex District Attorney Ryan encourages parents and family to develop activities to make children feel happy and loved since these can help to build up children’s confidence. Those concerned about bullying or cyberbullying, MARC has a line for a phone consult where school administrators and educators can schedule a time to discuss and receive advice on best practices to deal with these issues. For more information on MARC readers can visit them online at https://www.marccenter.org.
