3 years ago
Dunedin, Florida - A day away from class may teach these Dunedin Highland Middle school students a lesson in bullying that will last a life time.
- Keisha Bell, Family Lawyer with Community Tampa Bay:
- ?The emphasis is you have respect for yourself. We hope then you'll have respect for your neighbor.?
The group of students gathered is diverse some are bullies.
- Olivia Riker, 8th grader at Dunedin Highlands Middle School:
- ?Do you see yourself as a bully? Some people do, I do.?
Others like 14-year-old Breon Bostick say they've been bullied.
- Breon Bostick, 8th grader at Dunedin Highlands Middle School:
- ?When they say it's cool I don't like that. When I was young I was bullied. How did that make you feel? Horrible! Horrible!?
The conference on bullying is called a day of Unity.
Family lawyer Keisha Bell says her message is bullying divides.
- Bell:
- ?It divides communities. We need to function as one to be unified and that in itself eliminates discrimination.?
The students do group activities--the goal---is to breakdown any stereotypes...and allow
students to connect with each other...and stop the bullying cycle.
- Bell:
- ?In middle school gossip is the number one form of bullying across the country? They go home feeling isolated that's what bullying does it isolates you. Some have suicidal thoughts and some act on those things?this lets them know they're not alone.?
- Bostick:
- ?If you put yourself in their shoes...not a place you want to be.?
The lesson seems to be getting through.
- Riker:
- ?I'm learning not to bully others to respect others so I can be respected.?
According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Center, nearly 6 million students, that equals 30 percent of students between 6th through 10th grade are either a bully, a target of bullying or both nationwide.
National Mental Health Information Center
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
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