Rebuilding Trust After 30 Percent Observed Bullying

Over in the Tampa Tribune, we see that Donna Koehn has written about the Walker Middle School alleged rape case. I am holding out judgement on this debacle. I fully anticipate that we may eventually see a report from the HCPS that states that there were no indications of rape. Let's not forget the King High School debacle, where the Sheriff's office had a document that stated there were indicators of abuse when they said that an assistant principal was toe-popping students in a closed room where multiple students removed their clothing over an extended period of time. Let's not forget that the HCPS simply overrode those outside agency reports and, with three clicks of the heels of the ruby red shoes, there were no indicators of abuse.

A return to school, but not to innocence: "The school sent home a survey after the event asking students whether they had observed bullying. Almost 70 percent said no."

Which brings us to the word "trust."

Do a blog search on Poor Richard's Observations on HCPS for the word "trust."

Donna Koehn writes: "As principal, Brown is charged with creating an atmosphere of trust and candor among students."

Having that survey that shows 30% of the Walker Middle school students observed bullying could be a useful tool, depending on the definition of the word "useful." It could be useful to develop a professional educational setting or it could be useful to promote an image.

It could be useful if it were compared with same surveys conducted at all schools at the same time. A study of the indicators gained from a well written survey could provide valuable information to those administering a professional educational system.

On the other hand, another survey at Walker Middle school within a few years could be used to promote an image. Within a relatively short period of time, most of the people involved in the Walker Rape Case will be gone. The students will have moved on. Will anyone pay attention to the turn over rate of the faculty within the next year? A quiet transfusion over a year or two could occur, similar to what happened at Alafia Elementary, and no one would know that the next survey would be of people far removed from the current trauma.

Gotta' trust!