Schools need to act to prevent bullying

By: centraljersey.com
In light of the recent tragic teen suicide epidemic – Tyler Clementi 18, Asher Brown 13, Seth Walsh 13, Billy Lucas 15, Cody Barker 17, Raymond Chase 19 – I would like to propose some steps our schools can take to combat bullying.
"Communication and Behavior" class will be a mandatory, daily, graded, full-length class teaching K-12 students respectful communication such as how to be assertive and not aggressive, passive-aggressive, etc. The aggressors will learn to verbalize their feelings instead of taking them out physically. The shy ones will learn to stand up for themselves without fear of retribution. In this interactive class, they will learn by doing as they practice these methods daily. Games may be incorporated to make the learning fun and keep everyone attentive. Students must get an A in the class in order to pass to the next grade.
Students must use these respectful techniques in their other classes. If they do not, the other teachers must report them to the "Communication and Behavior" teacher. The reported students would get points taken off of their grade for the class.
Of course, there will be students even at a young age who are non-compliant. In that case, the school will require resources to work with these kids on an individual basis. They will need to use a compassionate, well-trained psychologist to get to the root of the child’s misbehavior, get the child to learn how to trust and connect to their peers, and get the child to be able to see things from the perspective of the others that they are hurting. Additionally, kids can be steered towards getting their aggression out in high-energy activities such as non-violent sports, gymnastics, dance, theater, etc. The psychologist can help these children find goals and hobbies to keep their attention on the fun of learning and achieving instead of on hurting others. Concurrently in the class, children will learn the dangers of bullying. Similarly to the "Just Say No" campaign, they will be taught that bullies are not cool, bullies don’t have any friends, and no one wants to be a bully. They will be taught to turn in bullies to the teachers. It is important that children from a young age learn it’s okay to go to the teacher with information. So many times kids are terrified their peers will retaliate for "tattling" so safety measures should be in place – they can even do it anonymously.
Children are most likely to be bullied at recess, on the playground, at lunch, and on the school bus/ walk to school. Therefore, teachers must monitor students during these times to stop aggressive behavior and report it.
There ought to be an Anti-Bullying Resource Center in the schools where children can go if they are being harassed and someone there can be their advocate.
Film and television studios can take the lead in producing a certain percentage of entertainment that is geared towards reinforcing these values of good communication and anti-bullying. Public service announcements can achieve this end, too.
I strongly urge all legislators to request Trenton and Washington start drafting bills that can protect our next generation of children and teenagers from the atrocities of this past month.
Jennifer Bartok Bennington Way
Vella is a leader for change and responsibility
To the editor:
I would like to bring to the attention of the voters of Hillsborough that we do not directly elect our mayor on Nov. 2. Hundreds of candidate DelCore’s signs around town that say "Re-Elect Mayor DelCore" are misleading and deceptive.
We have a township committee form of government in Hillsborough. The Township Committee chooses the mayor from among them at the yearly re-organization in January 2011. We are electing a Township Committee person in this election, period.
I recall that the Republicans campaigned against the referendum for charter change in government that would have allowed direct election of our mayor by the voters. Under one party Republican rule, the position of mayor has been rotated among the Republican members of the Township Committee.
Lest anyone is confused, let’s be clear – Maureen Vella and Frank DelCore are running against each other for the same seat! Voting for Mr. DelCore is a vote for the status quo and during these hard times more of the same is unacceptable. It is time for a change in our local government. Maureen Vella is a leader for change, for fiscal responsibility, for transparency and accountability.
I am voting for Maureen Vella and urge you to do the same. She is a needed breath of fresh air on the Township Committee and is ready to ask the right questions and demand complete answers as your representative. I agree with Maureen Vella that every dollar counts and she will carefully oversee how our taxes are spent.
Sonya Martin Gabriel Court
Campaign signs mislead voters
To the editor:
I would just like to bring to the attention of the voters of Hillsborough that we are not holding a mayoral election in Hillsborough on Nov.2, contrary to what hundreds of Frank DelCore’s signs around town, which say "Re-elect Mayor DelCore" would have you think.
We have a township committee form of government in Hillsborough. The Township Committee chooses the mayor from among themselves at their yearly re-organization (Recall the Republicans campaigned successfully against the referendum charter change that would allow direct election of the mayor by the voters).
And under Republican rule, if the past few years are typical, the mayor title goes to the individual next up for re-election from among the committee in order to get them more visibility. Once the election is over, that privilege generally goes to another committee member who will be up for re-election the following year.
Perhaps Maureen Vella should have been just as deceptive by printing signs that say "Vote Vella for mayor" but she did not.
Lest anyone is confused, let’s be clear – Maureen Vella and Frank DelCore are running against each other for the same seat. Mr. DelCore – please don’t deceive the voters any more than you already have with taxes, development and transparency (or lack thereof). These signs belie Mr. DelCore’s cavalier attitude with the voters of Hillsborough, and not only should they not vote for him for mayor, they should simply not vote for him at all. Instead, they should simply vote Vella.
Howard Greenberg Hillsborough
Thanks to DelCore, town leads in open space
To the editor:
Under the leadership of Mayor Frank DelCore, Hillsborough has led the way in Somerset County with an aggressive Open Space and Farmland Preservation Program.
With help from county, state, and federal funding, more than 7,000 acres of open space and 2,700 acres of farmland have been preserved. As a matter of fact, the township has preserved the most farmland in the county, nearly twice the acreage of the next closest municipality. In total, almost 30 percent of all land in Hillsborough is preserved, safe from development.
Plans are being developed for the former GSA Depot site, which may include 13 baseball and 10 soccer/football fields as well as an indoor recreation center, tennis and basketball courts, and an amphitheater, to list just a few of the proposed facilities.
Additionally, in other preserved areas which are suitable for hiking, bird watching, and cycling, the township is dedicated to preserving natural habitats and native species, protecting wetlands, creating trails, and providing scenic vistas for all residents.
Mayor DelCore has led this successful effort to slow residential development and provide a quality of life which Hillsborough residents will continue to enjoy for many years to come. Please join me in supporting Mayor DelCore on Election Day, Nov. 2.
Helen Haines Stonewyck Drive
Vella may add ‘mayor’ to list of monikers
To the editor:
I have known Maureen Vella for the past 10 years. My son and daughter are friends with Maureen’s children. Through the years with joint school projects, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and town sports, our families have become friends.
Maureen Vella – daughter, mom, wife, lawyer, businesswoman – and proud to call, friend. I now add to that growing list, candidate for Township Committee of Hillsborough.
Through the last 10 years, Maureen has been involved in school projects, Cub Scout projects, township events and most of all with me, Girl Scouts. As her daughter’s Girl Scout leader I have watched her daughter grow in Scouting. Maureen has supported and helped her daughter mature into a great scout and active member of my troop. Maureen’s daughter has taken charge and led many Girl Scout projects, which she has learned to do under her mom’s tutelage.
Though Maureen is a very busy person, she somehow finds the time to be involved in her family, guide her children, and help out with their activities.
I am glad that Maureen is entering public service and will be helping the Township of Hillsborough. I think she will be a great new member to the Township Committee and a great leader.
Who wants to lower our high taxes, improve our quality of life, and preserve our open spaces? Maureen Vella does and so do I.
Please join me in supporting Maureen Vella on Nov. 2 to be our newest member to Hillsborough’s Township Committee. Who knows, maybe one day we will add the title "mayor" to Maureen’s list!
Margaret Bright Amwell Road
Evidence of effective government abounds
To the editor:
It’s nice to see that we have a Township Committee that doesn’t simply use Hillsborough’s Money Magazine designation of "One of the Best Places to Live in America" as mere rhetoric, but instead works hard and effectively to make and keep that designation a reality.
Driving around town, I see the evidence everywhere. On Homestead Road, I see the progress being made on the bypass, after about 30 years of unfulfilled promises – it’s hard to believe it’s finally happening, but there it is. From Hillsborough Road, I can also see the bypass being built to the north of me, but I can also look to the south to see a huge stretch of farmland preserved by the township, which could have held many thousands of houses, but never will.
As I drive past the "Somerville" Depot on the northern end of Route 206, I recall reading that the mercury is finally leaving now, after almost 70 years of being stored here. Heading down the southern end of 206, I can turn onto Mountain View Road, and on one side see the sign on the fence saying that the Belle Mead Depot has been acquired and preserved (for recreational use), and on the other side pass through an old neighborhood that has new sewers and freshly paved roads. And, along Valley Road, I can stop at the crossing gates as a train passes, and not hear its almighty loud horns blowing.
The evidence of a township government that does its job for us, and does it well, is all around town. I like what I see, and how it adds to the quality of life in my community. So, I will be voting for Mayor Frank DelCore on Nov. 2.
Diane L. Cohen Oak Terrace