All three candidates expressed their passion for education and a desire to improve student achievement and the district’s state report card as well as embracing the new Middie Modernization Movement campaign rolled out by new Superintendent Marlon Styles Jr.
In regards to the recent incident at Rosa Parks Elementary, where a 9-year-old student brought a loaded gun to school because he said he had been bullied, a resident asked the candidates about what leeway is given to teachers to try to divert such behavior before it happens.
Here were the responses from the candidate:
Hughley Sr.: "Bullying can only exist when it's not reported, and that goes back to our youth trusting that they can talk to an administrator, teacher, and tell them what's going on without getting the repercussions of it. An anonymous report would go a long way to heading off some of the bullying that is going on.
Because once the kids know that you are the one who told on them, then that bullying is going to increase. They’re going to be called tattle-tale, a rat or whatever, so that’s going too increase. I also don’t know whether or not there is an in-school program that addresses bullying with the children to teach them about bullying and what to do if they are bullied.”
Moore: "I'm not well aware of our bullying policy and that's a major issue. When we see these types of things, certainly I can talk about awareness. I can talk about discipline. But this gives us an opportunity to re-think where we are at as a community.
We have our challenges cut out for us. We have (police) officers in some of our buildings. We have communication with our teachers and staff. We have good relationships with students, I think, often times to go to others to answer these types of questions. Folks are engaged in that process. Certainly bullying is an issue for Middletown City Schools … We know at the middle school — we see about 100 kids that consistently create disruption at the middle school. The challenge is now, what are we going to do about it?”
Mulligan: "Character education is important in all of the grades. It's more than bullying. It's demeanor, work ethic, the soft skills … I really don't have an answer to the bullying question. But our teachers need support of counselors in the building. I think teachers have enough to do with the education phase. … There are troubled children and it's troubled children that do the bullying … Maybe counselors in the building could help more than the teacher. Intervention has to take place and education and bullying programs all help. I think having more personnel in school to help with troubled children is needed."
About the Author
