Oklahoma City Superintendent Responds to Recent Bully Attacks, Racism

Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- In response to recent bullying attack in the Oklahoma City Public School District, Superintendent Karl Springer said bullying has been around for years, but these days, the kids are much more aggressive and schools are working harder to mitigate the problem.

For the third time this week, a student at an Oklahoma school claimed they were attacked by bullies.

On Monday, a racially charged school bus brawl started between a bus driver and a father after his 13-year-old girl was jumped by several black students. Less than 24 hours later, a foreign exchange from China came forward and said he was jumped, beaten and called several racial slurs by a group of teenagers, forcing him out of Centennial High School.

Another victim's mother said she saw a student attack her 13-year-old daughter at a bus stop. The attacker was suspended and was charged with assault and battery. The victim now has to change her class schedule and bus route.

"The ones that are victims, why do they have to continue to change everything or leave the school because they fear the protection they aren't getting?" said Rebecca Jackson, whose daughter attacked at bus stop.

Superintendent Springer said administrators are trying hard to protect the children from bullying and racism.

"Oklahoma City is a minority-majority school district. It's not surprising when we have a fight where more than one ethnicity is involved," Springer said. "I think the issue is going to be a continuing issue for us."

Springer said the schools are investigating each case.

"When it comes to bullying and children getting in fights, we need to be patient. We need to really nurture our children and help them understand. We need to work together and be mutually supporting, and it's much easier to have a peaceful relationship than it is to be violent," Springer said.

Springer said the students need to solve their problems by talking to each other instead of turning to violence and believes what is different now is the intensity in which the kids seem to fight.

"I think we reached a whole new level in 1999 in this country. Things became violent and schools all over the country began to do whatever we can do to have a safe, secure, serene environment for our students," Springer said.

Springer said the district has had several programs and meetings with teachers to deal with the growing issue.

"I can tell you we have no priority that's higher than the safety and the security of our children," Springer said.

One of the victim's mother said she doesn't think the meetings and training are enough. She said the punishment needs to be harder on the bullies and not just a few days suspension, which to her is just a slap on the wrist.

Springer said district officials are looking into discussing the issues further during a forum if parents express any concerns.

More:

• Racial Slurs, Punches Fly Between Parents and OKC School Bus Driver
• Mom Says Daughter Will Not Go Back to John Marshall High School After Bus Fight
• Police Review iPod Video of Fight on Oklahoma City Public Schools Bus