Montgomery County takes a stand against bullying

WASHINGTON – Bullying in schools is on the rise, and one local community is taking a stand against intimidation.

“I’ve had a couple friends that … have cut themselves,” said one high school student, who spoke at an anti-bullying symposium in Silver Spring Saturday afternoon.

Martin Castro, chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, spoke to parents and teachers about bullying as a growing problem in schools across the country. From 2009 to 2010, 282 incidents of bullying were confirmed in Montgomery County alone, according to a school report.

The statistic startles parents, who say “bulliers need more help than their victims, or at least equal help.”

The report shows most cases of bullying happen in elementary schools.

WTOP’s Thomas Warren and Anna-Lysa Gayle contributed to this report. Follow WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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