Julia K Cole

Prevention 1. Increase Communication Initiate discussion about your children’s social and online lives on a regular basis. Ask specific questions that generate meaningful dialogue (e.g., instead of “How was school?,” try “What is lunchtime like at your school—who do you sit with, what do you do and what do you talk about?”). Make sure that your demeanor communicates genuine interest and openness as opposed to the desire to control or invade privacy.  2. Monitor Behavior Observe your children in different settings by volunteering at school, participating in extracurricular activities and being watchful during social gatherings. If you notice that your children are overly aggressive, vulnerable to peer pressure or exhibit other behavior that troubles you, talk to them about  your concerns and redirect the behavior. Be vigilant about the warning signs associated with bullying behavior (e.g., social withdrawal, fear of attending school, avoidance of or preoccupation with tec...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) — A Jefferson County mother is asking the courts to force her son’s school to protect him from what she said is continuous bullying. Bekishia Cosby, whose son attends Olmsted North Middle School, claims teachers and administrative staff are negligent by not protecting her son from being bullied by fellow classmates. Cosby said she wants the courts to issue a protective order to ensure the staff will watch over her son at school. Several months ago, Cosby filed a lawsuit against her son's former school, Thomas Jefferson Middle School.  The lawsuit names Thomas Jefferson principal principal, eight other JCPS staff members and nine minors. A sworn affidavit states the boy, identified as BB, tried to commit suicide last year while at Thomas Jefferson because classmates bullied him for his perceived sexual orientation. According to the affidavit, when BB started at Olmsted the physical threats, name calling, and harassment continued. ...

My daughter attends High School here in Jefferson County, Kentucky. She was placed in ISAP (Detention) for the full day due to a “dress code” violation.   She wasn’t wearing a belt. While I appreciate the importance of rules and the need to enforce them, I am appalled by the extreme disciplinary tactics in dealing with dress code infractions.   Denying a child access to her/his classes and then placing them in the same room with children with distinct and continuous  behavioral problems?  All due to not having a belt to wear? Is it me or does anyone else find this extreme?    And not only is it extreme -- but is cheating a child out of their class time and their education.  This, in my opinion, is not only a form of neglect, but an abuse of power by the faculty and staff. And I assure you, I am not alone in my opinion in this regard. My child (and a few other children as well)  missed out on her classes, deni...