As the 2021 Holiday Season approaches, students and teachers are preparing for an extended holiday break filled with celebrations and family gatherings. However, the recent school threats and social media threats are putting a damper on the joyous holiday season.
According to NBC Miami three students are facing felony charges for making deadly threats on social media against a local high school at Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
In an interview with Anthony Harris, Dean of Students, known for his raspy voice, at Excelsior Charter Prep Academy, of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, also known as Coach Harris, proudly discussing his 17 year anniversary of serving as a disciplinarian, mentor and coach to impressionable youth in urban areas of South Florida, showing considerable concern regarding the notifications of recent threats, and possible weapons found on several campuses across the local school district.
“In the past 17 years I’ve served over 12,000 students, many whom were either victims or aggressors of bullying. However, most students, whether they’re victims or aggressors, don’t realize they’re actually bullying someone, on and off social media. This is behavior is not tolerated in the school district or at my school sites”, said Harris.
As a former athlete Harris reluctantly recalls using bullying tactics, a common practice during his adolescent years, to members of the opposing team in high school. Harris recalls seeing the effects of bullying on others, leading into their adult careers and professional lives, in his hometown community of Ft. Myers, Florida.
Overwhelming outcomes and experiences of becoming a college student, adjusting to changing behaviors as a professional athlete, transitioning to an NFL player, became a life changing decision for Harris to improve and expand his community involvement efforts to save troubled youth in urban school districts, experiencing bullying, potential suicide as a victim of bullying.
According to a CNN article adults serving as perpetrators of bullying, are most likely victims of childhood bullying, troubling childhood experiences and adolescent bullying.
Similarly, deLara’s article Consequences of Childhood Bullying on Mental Health and Relationships for Young Adults describes the need for expanded research by health care providers to continue supporting the impact of childhood bullying and the effects of the behaviors lasting into adult life.
Harris suffering an injury as an NFL Player in 2003 decided to use his talents and experience of self-control on the football field to assisting, training and developing youth off the field in education, to deter youth from at-risk behaviors. He began volunteering as a mentor for local school districts, providing crime prevention and self-esteem building activities coupled with sporting events at no cost to youth in South Florida.
During the interview Harris stated that, “Students should be able to come to school without worrying about bullying, gangs or illegal drugs on campus”.
“Students oftentimes become used to the behaviors of bullying, as victims, they become reluctant to report the incidents for fear of retaliation, but we have a zero tolerance for bullying, threats of school violence, or any other at-risk behaviors at our schools”, said Harris.
“Serving as a Dean of Students comes with an array of responsibilities, but first and foremost it is my responsibility to create a safe environment where the teachers can teach without distractions and the students can learn without distractions”, said Harris.
This story involves details of bullying. If you need additional assistance, please visit https://www.stopbullying.gov/
Resources
deLara, E. W. (2019). Consequences of Childhood Bullying on Mental Health and Relationships for Young Adults. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 28(9), 2379–2389. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-1197-y
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