Assistant Principal John Passarella said “bullying at RB echoes national trends, it just doesn’t always get reported. If one student is being bullied, it is a significant problem.” When asked about what classifies as bullying, Passarella stated “anything that makes a student feel intimidated or uncomfortable.” Passarella commented that “students have a right to come to school and feel safe.”

An anonymous victim of bullying came through, and said students have bullied the victim since the victim moved to the district in sixth grade.  “I’ve had to deal with being called “fag” “homo” “freak” … and other terrible names,” said the anonymous victim. This person also said that peers at school  have inflicted physical abuse, “people throw their lunch at me,” The bullied also mentioned that it wasn’t just at school that these wrongs occurred, the harassment happened on Halloween, and even over the weekend while the victim was hanging out with friends.

When asked how this feels, the victim replied, “sometimes I just wanna scream back at them and throw things back at them, but I know it won’t solve anything. I feel tension everywhere.”

Although the victim reported the harassment that happened throughout grade school, it was never resolved. “I dealt with it for four years until one day it went too far. I felt like I snapped and broke down crying in my classroom and ran out. That was the day I reported it, and things started to get resolved,” the victim said.  “It hasn’t been resolved, and never is going to be fully resolved. People are just insensitive to me.”

It has been found that bullying has veered away from its former stereotype of haggling people for lunch money, and has adapted to new forms like cyber bullying (internet bullying). Social Science Department Chair and staff sponsor for AST (association for student tolerance) John Beasley noticed this when he said “this is the sort of thing that is more frequent between younger girls and boys labeling each other or calling each other names.”

Last month, AST held a meeting, where the subject of bullying, was discussed. Beasley said AST “talks about issues when they percolate “. “AST’s big focus is community service, we haven’t discussed bullying much because there hasn’t been a groundswell of interest,” said Beasley. Beasley did say “though bullying is not the main focus of AST, they still promote peer tolerance, as I believe every organization in the school does”.

Recently, there has been an increase of bullying awareness around RB, this can be seen on the morning student bulletin, as well as on bulletins around the school hallways. Passarella explained for the recent action being taken, “I had a student being bullied for being gay. When that occurred, I realized there may be other kids being bullied that don’t know there is help for them.”  Beasley said he noticed “no increase in bullying activity”, and also mentioned “RB is not a place where cliques are as present as they are at other schools, or they are at least, more subtle.”

The victim said the only way they get through their day is by “standing strong, I tell myself every day that I am a great person and that everyone who looks past [my opinions] gets to truly know me.  I really try hard to take care of people and help a person who are bullied for all reasons, that’s why it’s so important that [my message] gets heard.  We all try to prevent all types of bullying.”

“If a problem starts at school, and continues outside of school, the school has a legal right to punish the bullying student.”  Consequences differ for bullying based on the level of severity. “Worst case scenario, students can be arrested, suspended, or removed from a setting, lunch/classrooms etc. Other consequences may also have affect. In the one case I dealt with, it was affective,” said Passarella. Beasley believes its “incumbent on all schools to protect all students, and make them feel safe to express divergent viewpoints.”

Passarella stated the school “takes bullying seriously, in my opinion it is an act of cowardice. In most cases, it’s a large group of students picking on single students that appear to be weaker. You never see a bully in a good fight.”

So far, only one major case of bullying has been reported at RB, along with several subtle cases. Bullying has happened for a multiple of reasons, ranging from sexual orientation, to race. Teachers have worked to intervene with bullying, but it often happens when teachers or security is not present, instead in the presence of other students. “Some students have called it out in an act to prevent it” said Passarella. 

Since December, only one more case of bullying was reported, it was a case of cyber bullying. “The students responsible for the bullying were disciplined and the family of the victim as happy with the consequences that took place”, said Passarella. “It is not a game to us, the discipline for bullies is stern and appropriate,” Passarella said.

Victims of bullying are encouraged to contact Mr. Passarella, David Sibley or any teacher at the school for help. Identities are promised to be kept anonymous, and the RB community is doing everything in its power to put a stop to the problem /and or limit it. Passarella stated “the last thing I want is for a student to feel desperate.”

Featured below is what students have been saying about bullying at RB.

1. What was your previously held office?
I was the superintendent for District 96 for 13 years and I retired in June of 2005. For two years after that I directed a school leadership program at Northeastern Illinois University. I was then contacted to be interim superintendent for District 90 in River Forest. After that I thought that I was really retired.

2. When did you decide to start working at RBHS/ How were you notified about the opening?
I was approached by a board member regarding the interim position after [former Superintendent Principal, Jack] Baldermann resigned. From there, I was interviewed by the Board and hired for the position.
Since I live near the school and have always had a vested interest in RB, I accepted the position.

3. What’s your favorite part of your job?
Being able to renew relationships with kids I knew from Hauser and being able to form friendships with new acquaintances with kids who went to Komarek and Gross. What attracts me to my job is being able to help kids be successful.

4. What are your goals for the 2009-2010 school year?
My goals for the school year are to really involve the community, work with the staff more, and take RB’s already strong reputation and build on that. The district is facing some financial hardships, and I have been working with a state wide group for a few years now and our goal is to increase school accountability and better the method by which the state funds schools.

Mr. Tim Scanlon, Interim Principal
Educational Backround:
Masters Degree in English from St. Xavier University in Chicago
School Administrative Certificate from Governor State University

1. What was your previously held office?
For the past few years at RBHS, I have been serving as Assistant Principal.

2. When did you decide to start working at RBHS? How were you notified about the opening?
I came to RBHS because of the outstanding reputation of its staff and students. Additionally, at that time, the position at RBHS gave me an opportunity to concentrate on staff development and curriculum which constituted my dream job. Finally, Mr. Baldermann was an excellent educational leader, and I wanted an opportunity to work with him.

3. What’s your favorite part of your job?
Reflecting with teachers on strategies, assessments, and curriculum are my favorite aspects of this job. Lately, however, I seem to miss more and more being in the classroom, but there will be time for that in the future.

4. What are your goals for the 2009-2010 school year?
I want to maintain our academic excellence, spend more time in the classrooms, and finish the construction project. Also to help RBHS to make a smooth transition to a new administration

Mr. Troy Gobble, Assistant Principal
Educational Backround:
BS in Chemistry Education from University of Illinois at Urbana
MS in Physics from Eastern Illinois University
MS in Educational Leadership from Benedictine University
Plans to finish Doctorate in Educational Leadership from DePaul in 2010.

1. What was your previously held office?
I was the Science Department Chair and a Physics teacher.

2. When did you start working at RBHS/ How were you notified about the opening?
I began at RBHS in 2001 and served as the department chair for 8 years.

3. What’s your favorite part of your job?
As the Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction, I am very excited to watch teachers in the building practice their craft and talk about ways to improve instruction and student learning

4. What are your goals for the 2009-2010 school year?
Personally, my goals are to be a good dad and husband, and to complete my doctorate coursework. Professionally, I want to continue to learn and grow as an educator and help others to do the same