21 January, 2011
Anyone who heard the tragic story last year of South Hadley student Phoebe Prince’s suicide after months of relentless bullying could not easily forget it. That sad event focused public and legislative attention on the need to protect children in Massachusetts from bullying behavior.
The Hopkinton Public Schools Wellness Committee in partnership with Main Street Pediatrics has organized two parent and community presentations to bring information about bullying to parents and interested community members. In two “Let’s Talk about Bullying” presentations, attendees will learn what signs a child might exhibit if he or she is being bullied, what to do if you suspect that bullying is occurring, and how to help children avoid online bullying, or cyberbullying.
The first session on February 7th features speakers Richard Cohen, a well-known peer mediation presenter and writer, and pediatrician Dr. Jonathan Rosenstein. Mr. Cohen will talk about the signs of bullying and how to recognize it. Dr. Rosenstein will speak about a common psychological effect of being targeted with bullying behavior, depression.
The second session on March 14th features an Assistant District Attorney in the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office who will talk about how cyberbullying occurs and how to recognize if your child is experiencing this new form of bullying.
Each of the two sessions will be held at Hopkinton High School from 7:00 to 9:00. No advance registration is required.
