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Bullying In Northbrook Schools: Here's What Parents Are Saying

Some parents described frustration with administrators' response to bullying in Northbrook elementary and high schools.

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NORTHBROOK, IL — Bullying prevention programs in Northbrook elementary and high schools received mixed reviews in an informal survey of Patch readers. The unscientific sampling of self-identified respondents who said their children attend schools provided anecdotal feedback about how parents feel administrators are doing in countering the menace of bullying in Northbrook School District 27, Northbrook District 28, Northbrook/Glenview District 30 and Northfield Township High School District 225

None of responses from those who identified themselves as parents of children in District 225 expressed satisfaction with administrators there.

One Glenbrook North parent called the district's anti-bullying and disciplinary policies "ridiculous" and said their child had attempted self-harm. Another said there was "sadly and unacceptably, very little" in the way of bullying prevention at GBN, and discipline was "not strong enough and definitely not doing enough on a regular basis." While another district parent said the administration has expanded the definition of bullying too far with its zero tolerance policy.

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"Policies are too sensitive," they said. "Bullying is the label given to children even having physical contact with each other, even if there is no intimidation intended or perceived."

Several parents of students at Glenbrook high schools said administrators are part of the bullying problem.

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"The administration contributes to the problem. Teachers, who see behavior daily, conveniently ignore when student on student. I believe most don't want to get involved. Next, the administration is guilty of bullying as well. Inappropriate comments about students in front of other students. Staff not training to handle each student scenario with care and kindness. Taking care of simple administrative tasks with the administration has been unnecessarily confrontational at times — without justification," one respondent said. "Parents are also guilty or exhibiting completely inappropriate behavior in front of THEIR kids as well as other students. I have witnessed Parental misconduct when picking up my student at the end of the day. I believe the bullies are generally learning these behaviors from their immediate family."

"Don't be intimidated by the parents of the bullies," urged another parent in the district. "Many of the bullies are the so-called 'popular' kids whose parents are professionals who deny that their kids do anything wrong. School employees are afraid of the parents and refuse to confront them," one parent said. "Kids who are bullied know that school staff is useless and won't help them, so they don't report bullying to teachers. Teachers want to 'hang out' with the popular kids themselves and be their 'friends,' so they pretend that bullying doesn't occur."

A District 27 parent who said their child had never been bullied said the district's policies were "great"and that its students support each other.

"The school district puts a lot of education toward bullying so the students understand it well," the respondent said.

But a majority of respondents from the district said its anti-bullying policies are not tough enough.

"I have heard of some other students who have experienced bullying other than my child, it has caused them depression, cutting themselves and thoughts of suicide," one said. "School Administration shouldn't just take notes and 'meet' with the bullies. When actual screenshots are shown with proof of threatening text messages, DO SOMETHING. Suspension should be No. 1: ZERO TOLERANCE!"

"They need to be stricter. Throwing $$ at the school to get a child off is wrong," another added. "They need to actually punish and not give warnings."

In District 28, another parent who said their child had never been bullied felt the district's policies seemed appropriate. They suggested giving parents better information about how to keep tabs on their children's online activities and more clarity in the definition of bullying.

"Clarify with families the difference between 'mean or disrespectful behavior' and 'bullying.' Also to educate families on how they can better monitor their child's social media/phone use since a lot of the negative interactions can occur electronically," the respondent suggested.

One respondent said bullying in the district has led some parents to take their children into home schooling and mentioned "several" suicides.

"There isn’t much a school district can do if parents don’t make an effort to educate their kids. We have tried in the past to discuss with bully's parents, in an effort to understand both sides, but have experienced obtuse attitudes and an unwillingness to confront their kids. These have been parents who we’ve known for years, not random people," another parent agreed.

A District 30 parent described bullying prevention as little more than "a seminar here or there."

"Policy is good but don't feel it's followed," they said. Their child suffered physical bullying that caused anxiety and depression, according to the respondent.

"Discuss how it affects kids more," they suggested. "Have more sessions and speakers about it."

Read More: Bullying: How Northbrook Schools Tackle The Issue

Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

The regional parent survey, timed to coincide with National Bullying Prevention Month in October, was posted on dozens of Patch sites in Illinois and in the Midwest. The survey is not scientific, but could be considered a broad indicator of parents' feelings about the seriousness of bullying in their schools and communities.

Take the Patch bullying survey »

As of Friday, Oct. 18, more than 460 parents responded to this regional Patch survey. The key findings were:

  • Nearly 71 percent of parents said their children had been bullied at least once.
  • Nearly 65 percent had been bullied this school year.

These informal findings should be compared to statistics compiled in more scientific surveys, which note that:

The Menace Of Bullies: Patch Advocacy Reporting Project

As part of a national reporting project, Patch has been looking at society's roles and responsibilities in bullying and a child's unthinkable decision to end their own life in hopes we might offer solutions that save lives.

Do you have a story to tell?

Are you concerned about how your local schools handle bullies and their victims?

Email us at bullies@patch.com and share your views in the comments.

Selected Stories From The Project

From No Bully, Patch News Partner

From The Experts

What We've Learned

Patch staff contributed. Spelling and punctuation have been corrected in some parent responses.

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