The Guyer High School anti-bullying committee has taken its message on the road, and we hope there are many repeat performances.
On Tuesday, three Guyer High staffers on the committee and student representative Ashley Thompson visited Harpool Middle School. Accompanied by the Guyer varsity cheerleaders, they led students in a “Bully Proof Pledge” during an afternoon pep rally.
Earlier this month, the group brought the same message to Crownover Middle School, another feeder school of Guyer High. Thompson said she hopes the committee will soon start visiting elementary campuses.
We agree and believe that anyone who has ever been victimized by a bully in school can appreciate the value of the program.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, so Guyer’s road show is a great way to encourage young people to treat others with respect.
In spite of teachers’ and administrators’ best efforts to banish bullying from all grade levels, school hallways can sometimes resemble mean streets when viewed through timid young eyes. Most of us have seen examples of bullying, even if we weren’t affected personally, and we realize that students of all ages can be at risk.
We believe that messages like the one presented by Guyer High can do a lot of good, not only in letting young people know that someone is aware of the problem, but also that they are willing to help provide a solution.
It’s especially meaningful when a student like Thompson, a senior, is given a lead role. Children look up to older students and will often pay attention to what they have to say when other warnings go unheeded.
Thompson encouraged Harpool students to be “someone’s hero” and an “upstander” — someone who speaks up when they see a wrong, and works to right it.
Since last year, the anti-bullying committee at Guyer High has hosted a pep rally and activities at the school. The group encourages students to pledge to stand up for peers they see bullied. This is the first year the committee has shared the message with middle schools.
“I hope that they understand: Do not be afraid to stand up for somebody if they’re being bullied,” Thompson said. “Be someone’s hero. I just want them to know to not be afraid to help someone else when they are in need.”
Thompson and other high school students who participate in this program are to be congratulated for having the courage to help. It’s not always easy to do the right thing.
But such acts of kindness and encouragement can often have far-reaching effects and could help prevent the tragic consequences of bullying that have been reported in some schools.
We appreciate the efforts of those involved in the Guyer High program and encourage other schools to consider adopting such an effort.
