Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying - Opinion - DailyTidings.com - Ashland, OR

Ashland Daily Tidings (Ashland, OR — Wayback)

2015-04-02

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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant Community actors balance day jobs, stage life Police Reports Ashland population jumps by up to 50,000 — bees Public works staff get close encounter of the ring-tailed kind Education Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers Business Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant Cars We Remember: ‘Topper’ movie car most memorable Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Politics and elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ashland's Knecht provides bright spot in Grizz nonleague loss to South Medford Blazers clinch playoff spot Thompson-Siporen second in decathlon Documentary about Southern Oregon University football's national championship team to screen for free Fantasy Sports: Reds’ Chapman opens list of top closers High school Ashland's Knecht provides bright spot in Grizz nonleague loss to South Medford Thompson-Siporen second in decathlon Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Southern Oregon University Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Voices Latest Stories Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza Letters to the Editor, April 1 Landgren cartoon: European travel essentials Our View: One for the books Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan Editorial Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza Our View: One for the books Our View: Build it; they will play Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Letters Letters to the Editor, April 1 Letters to the Editor, March 30 Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan Chris Honoré: Some political and social observations Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Ashland High grad performs at OSF's Hip Hop Open Mic Top 5 things to do this week Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright Theater Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' Ticket availability Ticket Availability Music Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Woman in Gold’ doesn’t shine Movie review: In ‘Danny Collins,’ Pacino helps us imagine a Lennon story Noah Baumbach talks Ben Stiller, adult comedies and more In 'Timbuktu,' lust for power disturbs peace Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Community actors balance day jobs, stage life Page H. Onorato: What’s on the menu for Easter? Page H. Onorato: Leftover ham and eggs make for some yummy dishes after Easter Carol Link: It’s time to get into shape for spring yard work Prudence Hilburn: Bake something different — cracker bread Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW   Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant       ...       Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland       ...       Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza       ...       Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant       ...       Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland       ...       Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza       ...           GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Comment By Priscilla Saul DailyTidings.com By Priscilla Saul Posted Mar. 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Priscilla Saul Posted Mar. 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter... » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter or email [email protected] .   »  Social News Regarding the “bronze star” rating awarded to the Ashland School District by the Oregon Safe Schools & Communities Coalition, you followed up by reporting on Friday, March 6, that the district expressed “curiosity” about not receiving a higher rating. Since this rating is based on policies regarding harassment, intimidation, bullying, etc., the coalition may well have reached this conclusion based on interviews with students at AHS or Ashland Middle School. A young man I know very well had excruciating experiences in Ashland schools. He was different; he may be described as “odd.” As his mother, I encouraged him to celebrate his differences, to value his many remarkable qualities, and to do his best to ignore those who taunted him because they truly were beneath his notice. He worked regularly with private counselors, we made certain he was physically safe, comforted him, often met with teachers and administrators, and taught him self-advocacy. In elementary school, he would retaliate against those who were making fun of him, and would end up being blamed for the incident and punished for it. By the time he was in high school, he’d learned to isolate himself socially for protection and emotional self-preservation. From middle school on, many sleepless nights were spent sobbing, questioning, and begging to not have to return to what he described as “a living hell.” At a parent-teacher conference at the middle school, his homeroom teacher casually mentioned that one day she had found him “in the fetal position under a classroom desk” during the lunch hour. Why hadn’t she called us right away? Why was he under that desk? No one there had thought to find out. He finally admitted to me that it was because of taunts and cruel statements from the other kids, some of whom had been his good friends in elementary school. By the time he was in high school, he was able to ignore most of the taunts aimed toward him and his handful of friends who were so different from the mainstream. When it became unbearable, he would seek help from the adults on campus. The Ashland schools failed him again. He was patted on the back, told he was being overly sensitive or imagining things, and sent back out to fend for himself. We were never contacted by AHS. We learned about these instances only from him, and not until after he graduated. Two teachers and one administrator did their best to keep their eyes on him. We will be forever grateful to Lloyd at the alternative school, Doug Shipley, and Don Valentini. I will always feel anger toward those many who didn’t lift a finger, even when he went to them for help. I am surprised they earned even a bronze star. Priscilla Saul attended Ashland schools for 12 years. Her third-grade students this year have taken it upon themselves to design a campaign to stamp out bullying at their Eagle Point elementary school. By Priscilla Saul DailyTidings.com By Priscilla Saul Posted Mar. 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments   Reader Reaction »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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