Cheatham County citizens make 3 anti-bullying proposals to Board of Education

February 27, 2012

Nashville, TN—On February 22, Cheatham County residents delivered three anti-bullying proposals for consideration by the Cheatham County Board of Education at their March meeting.    The proposals resulted from ongoing discussions of bullying  by Cheatham County residents and youth and equality advocates from Nashville after Cheatham County Central High School senior Jacob Rogers took his life in December.  Family and friends say that Rogers was bullied at school for being gay.

Two of the proposals acknowledge steps taken by Cheatham County Schools to address bullying such as a revision of the district’s anti-bullying policy that took place in November and efforts to provide teacher trainings.  In the first proposal, Jeremy Rogers of Ashland City recommends that Cheatham County Schools provide a monthly report to the public that would document the number of bullying cases per school and how they were resolved.  In the second proposal, Mary Ann Bernicky of Pegram requests that copies of the curriculum used to train teachers on bullying issues be made available for public inspection and that the district provide information on how many teachers have been trained as well as reveal any plans for ongoing certification of school personnel.  

The third proposal offered by Kaelynn Malugin of Ashland City suggests a revision of the district’s anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies to include the categories “gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation” in their enumerated classes to improve protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students or those who are perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

The Tennessee Equality Project provided assistance in drafting the proposals and advice in navigating the Cheatham County Board of Education’s policy process. 

 

The next meeting of the Cheatham County Board of Education is March 5.

Contact:           Chris Sanders

  (615) 390-5252

                        chris@tnequalityproject.com

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Cheatham County High School dodges questions about anti-LGBT bullying

Will Cheatham County Central High School promote
a "No Bullying Zone" for all students?

Last night, parents, students, concerned citizens and TEP Board members gathered in Ashland City, TN to participate in a meeting about suicide and suicide prevention at Cheatham County Central High School. Representatives from the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network were on hand to provide information. TSPN shared an important resource for anyone who is contemplating suicide or knows someone who is. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) is the number to call for anyone who needs help. Program this number on your mobile phone in case you ever need it.

During the meeting, a TSPN official shared that bullying had nothing to do with Jacob Rogers’ decision to end his life last week; other factors played a greater role. However, parents and students at the meeting were not satisfied with this assessment. Many parents and a student aware of anti-LGBT bullying at the school tried to ask questions about what the school was doing to address the issue. TEP Board member H.G. Stovall asked a pointed question to Principal Glenna Barrow during the brief time that was alloted::

I asked Principal Barrow if the school’s bullying policy included explicit protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. At first, she said it did. I asked her to check the policy which she happened to hold in her hand. She read aloud the protected factors from the Cheatham County Board of Education Policy 6.304 that prohibit discrimination, harassment, bullying, and intimidation that is “sexual, racial, ethnic or religious in nature.” When she realized that sexual orientation and gender identity/expression were not specifically included, she said she interpreted the policy to cover those areas.

The meeting ended abruptly before Stovall could ask Principal Barrow if the the rest of the faculty shared her interpretation of the policy. While Principal Barrow should be applauded for her broad interpretation of the school board’s anti-bullying policy, her response points out a real problem for Cheatham County Schools, including Central High School. Without specific protections for LGBT students, how are staff supposed to know when to intervene when they witness anti-LGBT bullying? What sort of training do school staff receive on bullying? How is intolerance of LGBT students among students and faculty addressed? What safeguards are in place to protect against anti-LGBT bias at the school?

These questions show no signs of going away. Many parents were frustrated by the unwillingness of officials to answer their questions about bullying. Parents and students at last night’s meeting expressed a willingness to continue casting a bright spotlight on an issue they feel is important for ensuring a safe school for students. The school must go further than sharing a 1-800 number to provide protective factors for students who may be bullied, feel depressed or isolated, or be contemplating suicide.

Anyone interested in being a part of this change is encouraged to contact Chris Sanders or H.G. Stovall. TEP stands ready to empower parents and students in Cheatham County in their quest to bring about specific protections. If you have not already done so, I invite you to participate in TEP’s petition to the Cheatham County School Board and District Director calling for policy reform. Then share this petition with your friends and family.


- Jonathan Cole