Bullied student brought knives to school, police say

A student brought a set of steak knives to a Gurnee middle school earlier this month to defend herself against bullying, police said Thursday.

The six knives were found in the 14-year-old girl's locker at Viking Middle School, Deputy Police Chief Kevin Woodside said. She didn't hurt anyone or directly threaten other students, he said.

The incident underscores the need for parents to talk with their children about bullying and to develop strategies for dealing with bullies, Woodside said.

Additionally, if you suspect your child is being bullied, talk to school administrators about the problem, Woodside said.

"Get it out in the open," he said.

The student was arrested Dec. 12 after police learned the girl, who is from Wadsworth, brought the knives to school, Woodside said. They were found in her backpack in her locker, reports indicated.

Other students had told school officials about the knives, police said.

The teen felt she was being bullied, Woodside said. Several students were involved, he said, but it was not clear exactly how many.

The girl was charged as a juvenile with possession of weapons and referred to juvenile authorities. She was released to her mother after her arrest, police said.

Court information was not available.

Woodside said the girl faced disciplinary action at school, too, but Gurnee Elementary District 56 Superintendent John Hutton declined to discuss the incident or the girl.

Hutton said the arrest has spurred him and the school board to develop an anti-bullying program for District 56 that could be implemented for the 2008-09 school year.

"Bullying is something that all schools are dealing with," he said. "One (incident) is too many."

The program could start at the middle school, then expand to the district's three other campuses, he said.

About 2,200 students attend classes in District 56. Ideally, the program would be aimed not just at potential bullies or victims, but also other students who don't act when bullies strike, Hutton said.

By doing nothing, bystanders validate and encourage bullies, he said.

Bullying is against the law in Illinois. Menacing or intimidating a student in such a way that it interferes with attendance is a misdemeanor that could result in jail time and fines.

Illinois schools are required under a 2006 law to implement bullying-prevention programs -- covering intimidation, student victimization, sexual harassment, sexual violence and other topics -- for students in all grades.

District 56 hasn't created such a program yet because the General Assembly didn't provide funding, Hutton said.