For Maria Paguay, harassment has become the biggest problem in the lives of her children.

Paguay, who is Ecuadorian, has three children who attend IS 61 in Corona. She said that her fourteen-year-old son, who is in the eighth grade and has a speech impediment, is continually being harassed by his classmates because he does not wear brand-name clothes or sneakers.

"My son feels very bad and angry," said Paguay. "His behavior has changed, and there are days when he does not want to go to school."

Paguay said that the school's administrators were calling her almost every day to pick up her son because he wanted to go home. Lately, she said, the problem has intensified. Her son was recently handcuffed and taken to Elmhurst Hospital after he fought with another boy who was making fun of him. Her worst fear is that her son will be attacked by the members of a gang.

"I'm always crying," said Paguay. "I want to help my children."

Now, the school and Queens Congregations United for Action (QCUA), a faith-based community organization in northern Queens, have initiated a group composed of people from the community and the school to fight against intimidation and help children like Paguay's. The group is made up of parents, school personnel, the business community, the New York City police and City Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-District 25), who represents the area.

According to the most recent school inquiry at IS 61, which is predominantly Hispanic, more than 80 percent of the students interviewed reported having been threatened or intimidated at least once while at school. An inquiry among parents and teachers found the same results, according to school officials.

"I do not want the school or the community to be torn apart because of this problem," said the PS 61 Principal John Lisa, during a community forum held at the school on December 15. "It has got to stop now."

The group will support the measures already instituted at IS 61, including greater vigilance by school personnel at the times when children are entering and leaving the building, programs against intimidation, and the recent installation of security cameras throughout the building.  The group is also planning a mediation program in pairs beginning in January.

"Please take this problem very seriously," insisted Paguay, a member of the Parents' Action Committee of QCUA, during the forum. "Don't wait until the same thing happens to your son or daughter."

The group has also implemented a system of complaint boxes, which will allow the students who are being harassed to write a simple note and leave it outside their counselor's office.  The principal said that four students were left notes during the first week.

Councilman Dromm, who was a teacher in Sunnyside for 25 years, recalled the times when he was the object of jokes and pranks in school because he was gay. Dromm obtained a grant of $7,000 to allow the school to put some of the anti-intimidation measures into practice.

"I am very happy that Mr. Lisa is doing something positive in the school," said Dromm. "Not all the schools are doing it."