Miramonte’s Two Anonymous Bullying and Bias Reporting Systems Help Students
People consistently see news reports of tragedies involving young people, only to later learn that the students felt bullied and outcast within their community.
I believe this distressing information shows a real problem in students’ communities, where schools aren’t doing enough.
The National Center for Education Statistics (https://bit.ly/4em2NNk) found that in 2020-21, about 19% of students ages 12–18 reported being bullied during school.
The Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD), which encompasses Miramonte, has taken targeted steps to try to minimize that staggering number. One of them is the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System.
This system is a form intended to report someone believed to be experiencing a mental health crisis or a safety threat. Students can also report on themselves.
The tool was created by the Sandy Hook Promise, a non-profit organization whose mission is to prevent not only gun violence, but all forms of violence in schools.
The National Institute of Justice states that University of Michigan researchers Hsing-Fang Hsieh and Justin Heinze found that implementing the system costs less than $3,000 per school.
Serving as an accessible method of reaching all students, it proves to be worthy of the investment.
Another system Miramonte and AUHSD use is the Bias Incident Reporting System, which is intended to prevent racism, bias, sexism, microaggressions, etc.
While it’s not AUHSD’s goal to police speech and thought, they want to provide spaces for all to feel welcome. Submissions from the Bias Incident Reporting System never result in punishment, but if a case needs further attention it can go to Miramonte’s administration.
Margaret Meckes, a Miramonte junior, said that the wellness center is also a great resource for students to get help.
“The wellness center serves as a place to either cool down, talk with a specialist or just destress,” said Meckes.
While there are always ways to improve, Miramonte faculty are doing everything they can to minimize bullying through the scope of their power.
If you know a student experiencing a mental health crisis, please report to the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System. If you know someone making hate comments toward certain groups or individuals, don’t hesitate to make a report to the Bias Incident Reporting System.
Both forms are linked on the AUHSD website at acalanes.k12.ca.us/Page/3334.
