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Putnam Northern Westchester Boces Hosts Anti-Bullying Workshop

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y. – Fifty teachers and teacher's aides recently attended an anti-bullying workshop sponsored by the Hudson River Teacher Center at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES in Yorktown.

A screen shot from the PowerPoint presentation at the workshop.

A screen shot from the PowerPoint presentation at the workshop.

Photo Credit: Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES.

The workshop covered the state's Dignity for All Students Act, which took effect on July 1, 2012.

The law requires schools to keep students safe and free from intimidation so they are able to pursue their education.

The attendees, who were new teachers and teachers aides, learned techniques for discouraging bullying behavior as well as information on how to recognize and respond to bullying.

“The workshop definitely helped make the line less blurry between what is considered bullying and what might be teasing as well as clarifying the roles students play,” said Michael Gaudio, who works for the Department of Education in New York City, in a press release.

“It is very important for new teachers and teacher aides but I think it would also benefit teachers who have been in the field a while.”

Katya McGaffey, a teacher's aide at Walden School, said the workshop helped her “to understand (her) responsibility and to identify different types of bullying.”

Michele Mitchell, a recently certified K-6 teacher, called the training “eye-opening.”

She also noted that parents need to see what is happening in classrooms and on social media and get involved in educating their children about bullying. 

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