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While I applaud the Severna Park Voice staffs’ attempt at addressing bullying related concerns in their recent editorial, I am very troubled by the actions they have taken to do so. I no longer live in Annapolis, but having grown up in this community, I feel it important to speak out. First, and foremost, bullying is a significant problem in our schools nationwide. Per the National Center for Educational Statistics in 2019, one out of every five students reports being bullied, and we know that bullying has significant negative consequences on a child’s wellbeing and mental health. These rates are too high and the consequences extreme. Bullying should not be tolerated.

However, in their efforts to draw attention to this concern, the staff have done a disservice to the issue and the children involved. It’s important to remember that we are taking about children. Children who have a right to privacy, safety, and support from their community. Though you state that this is not an isolated incident, by drawing attention to the circumstance, you isolate it further and increase the rates of attention on this specific incident. Moreover, there is little thought to the complicated nature of bullying in this editorial.

I have no knowledge on any of the children involved in this incident. Thus I am only speaking to research done on bullies, victims, and bully-victims. This third category is incredibly important and often forgotten about. It is not uncommon that children who bully, have been bullied, research refers to them as bully-victims. We know that bullies and bully-victims report high rates of problematic behaviors, negative self-thought, difficulties with social interactions, and higher rates of mental health concerns (Cook et al., 2010), including significantly higher rates of self-harm (Myklestad & Straiton, 2021). Perhaps, in the incident you draw attention to, you have found the one rare child who is simply mean. I see that as incredibly unlikely though.

You mention removing a previous article about the suspended student. I am assuming, though I may be wrong, that this article referred to something positive about the suspended student. This action is what bothers me the most. Ultimately this action further punishes this child. A bully should have consequences, but they should be appropriate and delivered by the appropriate people. What you have now ensured is that when someone looks for information on this child, they will no longer see a multifaceted child, but information that deems this child as a bully and only a bully. By this action, you have made the decision that this child’s positive behaviors, whatever they were, no longer matter. As a clinical child psychologist and a psychological scientist, I study the role of exclusion and isolation and how it increases risk for psychopathology. By further excluding this child, you have increased their risk for poor outcomes. In an effort to support one child, you have failed another.

I would be more than happy to talk with anybody about effective ways to decrease bullying in schools and communities. Supporting the school, providing greater resources, educating parents and youth can all be effective methods of deterring bullying behavior. Shaming a child does not help. Please feel free to reach out to me at sarahhope.lincoln@gmail.com if you have questions or concerns.

Sarah Hope Lincoln, Ph.D.