Siarra Garcia

100 Centre Mall Apt. 4C

Brooklyn, NY 11231

November 1^st, 2014

Mayor Bill de Blasio

City Hall

New York, NY 10007

Dear Mayor de Blasio,

I am writing you today to primarily applaud New York State on the implementation of the Dignity for all Students Act. Bullying is an issue I have always felt strongly about, especially as a New York City public school student for grades K-12. I believe the act is a step in the right direction to monitoring the behaviors of students in school, ensuring their safety and raising awareness to an issue that is often swept under the rug. However, I do feel that there are a few additions that should be made to the act’s amendments.

The act is not specific on how many times anti-bullying material should be incorporated into the curriculum. Should it be incorporated only once a year? Twice? I believe NYC public schools will greatly benefit from mandatory anti-bullying workshops and team building activities once a week.

Additionally, the act requires schools to report data at least once a year. In order to crack down on bullying, schools may benefit from mandatory reporting per semester. These reports should be made by both the student body and the faculty members.

Sincerely,

Siarra Garcia

New York City College of Technology Student

Siarra Garcia

Hus 2307

Position Statement (Assignment #3)

For as long as there have been public educational facilities there has been school bullying. It is an issue that seems to have no resolution. Instead, it intensifies as the number of students per classroom increases and as technology is made more readily available. Although bullying does not exclusively affect public school students or even just children alone, public schools have a duty to protect their students while they are in their care. Yet, many still report to feeling unsafe. According to DoSomething.org “3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year” and  approximately “160,000 teens skip school every day because of bullying.” (11 Facts About Bullying) In New York, “1 in 5 public High School students has been a victim of bullying.” (New York Post) Although humans may always have the urge to bully even beyond adolescence, there are ways to monitor and protect students from school bullying. New York City public schools should conduct per-semester surveys and implement weekly team building and anti-bullying programs.

On September 13^th, 2010 New York took a step in the right direction by signing into law the Dignity for All Students Act. This law became effective on July 1^st, 2012. The DASA states that “The Dignity Act seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.” (nysed.gov) As part of the act, DASA requires K-12 schools to incorporate curriculum that promotes awareness of and sensitivity to discrimination and diversity as part of civility and citizenship classes. DASA also requires schools to collect and report data on bullying to the New York State education commissioner at least once a year. (nyc.gov) However, this act alone does not do enough.

DASA requires New York City public schools to incorporate discrimination awareness  into the curriculum, however, they do not state how often this material should be taught. In order to not create an obvious separation between the bully and the victim, team building activities and classes should be given on a weekly basis. In these classes, students can learn how to work together while carrying out an objective.  These groups should be kept small and should have a therapeutic concept. Groups should change its members every semester. Teachers should monitor interactions between the students.

DASA also states that schools are required to report data at least once a year. With the start of every new semester, schools should conduct anonymous surveys to their students. These surveys should not be rushed or given at a time where a student may not feel that their answers will be kept anonymous. This per-semester basis would provide a closer look at how the team building groups worked, and if they were successful or not.

School bullying does not only affect a student physically, but also mentally and emotionally. It is a serious issue that effects how a student preforms in their schoolwork, but also in their lives outside of school. Bullying can have long lasting effects for both the bully and the victim. It is important that New York City treats this as a serious issue by mandating weekly programs and per-semester surveys in order to insure the safety of all public school children and to provide awareness to why bullying is not tolerated, and not okay.

References

• 11 Facts About Bullying. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2014, from https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-bullying
• 1 in 5 are bullied in NYC high schools. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2014, from http://nypost.com/2013/12/30/1-in-5-are-bullied-in-nyc-high-schools/
• The Dignity Act. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2014, from http://www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact/
• About the Dignity for All Students Act. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2014, from http://archive.advocate.nyc.gov/bullying/DASA

1. What is your home zip code? 11231.

2. Does your community have a name? If so, what is it? Red Hook.

3. What is the number of your Community Board? Briefly state its purpose.  06. The purpose of this community board is to advise elected officials on the community’s land use, budget and service delivery.

4. Who is the President of of your Community Board? Daniel Kummer

5. Who is the District Manager of your Community Board? Craig Hammerman

6. Who is your current New York City Council Member, what communities does s/he serve, what council committees does s/he serve on? Carlos Menchaca. He serves the communities of Red Hook, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope and Cobble Hill.

7. Who is your New York State Assembly Member? Felix Ortiz

8. Who is your New York State Senator? Chuck Schumer

9. Who are your U.S Senators?

10. Who is your U.s Congressional Representative? Nydia Velazquez

11. What are the basic demographics of your community? Population: 8,023

                                                                                                  Gender: Male: 3,901

                                                                                                                 Female: 4,112

                                                                                                   Median Age: Male: 28.7

                                                                                                                           Female: 33.8

                                                                           Race/Ethnicity: Predominantly Black and Hispanic

                                                                                             Median Household Size: 2.6 people

                                                  Educational Levels: 58% have less than a high school education

                                                                                         3.8% have an Associate’s degree

                                                                                         4.8% have a Bachelor’s degree

                                                                                         8.3% have a Master’s degree

12. What is the health status of your community?

13. What are the crime statistics for your community?

14. Briefly describe the educational/cultural resources of your community. Red Hook is a small community with about 3 public schools,1 library, 1 senior center and no movie theaters or museums.

15. Briefly describe the recreational resources of your community. Red Hook has many parks throughout the neighborhood, as well as recreational centers and a public pool.

16. Briefly describe the religious/spiritual institutions of your community. There are many small churches scattered around Red Hook.

17. Briefly describe the financial and business institutions in your neighborhood. There are very few banks in Red Hook. There are more check-cashing businesses. There are very few supermarkets, however Red Hook recently gained Fairway a few years ago. There are many corner stores and drug stores  but hardly any clothing stores, real estate agencies or travel agencies. 

18. Briefly describe the infrastructure of your community. The roads, streets and sidewalks in Red Hook need improvement. Some streets are still made of cobblestone. Many street lights do not work, There are many trees and grassy areas that should be taken better care of.

19. Based on your research and walkabouts, identify 3 of your community’s strengths or assets:

1. Red Hook is located on the waterfront, right across from Manhattan which makes is easy to travel to and from the boroughs. 

2. Red Hook is a small and close-knit community.

3. 

20. Based on your research and walkabouts, identify and prioritize 3 issues of concern to you about your community:

1. Sanitation

2. Public Transportation

3. Crime

21. Human services ethical standards speak about our profession’s concern for individuals, families, communities, and society. Why should human services professionals care about communities and society? Communities allow interaction and coexistence between their residents. A healthy community benefits the health and well being of the individuals. Healthy communities mean a healthy society.