Philadelphia City Council looks into bullying

Philadelphia City Council held a hearing on school bullying Tuesday.

Upper Darby Police Chief Michael Chitwood spoke about how more than a half-dozen students terrorized a 13-year-old  African student January as they videotaped it with the intention of uploading it to social-networking sites.

“Not that social networking has caused more bullying, it’s exacerbated the bullying issue,” said Chitwood. “And these kids are involved in these idiotic trends of being showoffs.”

In Upper Darby, more police officers have been sent to schools to talk to students about bullying.

During the hearing, one official related his own experience with the issue.

Councilman Frank DiCicco spoke about he was routinely bullied as a young man.

“I was the victim of being bullied almost every day of my life because people accepted is as ‘That’s just kids’ and ‘That’s just what they do,’’ said DiCicco. “I was terrified, I was terrified most days going to school or coming home.”

Philadelphia School District officials testified that newly instituted programs are helping to address the problem. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell said she is still not satisfied.