PLATTSBURGH — Bullying continues to be a growing problem in today’s society, but communities can work toward reducing potential conflicts between the bully and the bullied.

CVPH Medical Center, in conjunction with several area agencies and organizations, will host a presentation on bullying Wednesday, Oct. 21, designed to help parents and educators identify problems associated with bullying at school and in the home.

“We’ll discuss the definition of bullying, what a bullied child looks like and what a bully looks like,” said Bonnie Black from Behavioral Health Services North.

“We’ll talk about the symptoms of being bullied — nausea, headaches, suddenly not wanting to go to school.”

TECHNOLOGY EFFECT

The presentation will also look at how bullying has changed with the use of computers and the Internet and how it has become a problem that crosses gender lines.

“Bullying by girls is different than bullying by boys,” Black said. “Boys are more forthright and more physical. Girls can be much more subtle, and much meaner. It often flies under the radar of administrators, teachers and parents.”

Patricia Amo, principal of Stafford Middle School, will be on hand to present information on what the Plattsburgh City School District is doing to address bullying issues across the district.

Jay Miner from the New York State Police, who specializes in computer crimes, will talk about bullying online.

SCHOOL POLICIES

Laurie Williams from the Clinton County Health Department will provide an assessment on public policy she recently completed on bullying in the region’s school districts.

“I think what Laurie will show us is that there is not a lot of consistency in policies and procedures,” Black said. “In a way, that can mirror what also happens in the workplace, where people don’t always understand that bullying is a violation of the mandatory workplace-violence policy.”