A campaign to prevent bullying kicks off Thursday with a series of public services announcements on local airwaves as well as the launch of an anti-bullying hotline and website operated by The Family Tree in coordination with Acadiana Open Channel. The campaign is also reaching out through social media with its own Facebook page.
Local ABC affiliate KATC begins a series of PSAs Thursday featuring the station’s on-air talent, and AOC will soon begin its own series of commercials featuring District 4 City-Parish Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux, his brother, Lafayette Consolidated Government Parks and Recreation Director Gerald Boudreaux, and newly elected District 4 school board rep Tehmi Chassion, each of whom says he was bullied as an adolescent.
The impetus for the campaign, according to Stephen Handwerk, AOC’s board president, was the recent rash of widely publicized suicides by adolescents who were bullied. “I think now in the past 30 days, if the media report was correct, we’ve had 16 suicides, teenagers committing suicide, and all directly related to bullying,” Handwerk told The Independent recently. “We’ve got to do something locally here before our kids feel that there’s no other choice but to take their own lives.”
The website, BullyingStopsWithMe.com, launches at 4 p.m. Thursday. In addition to KATC, radio stations KPEL 96.5 FM and KVOL 1330 AM will also run public service announcements related to the campaign. The hotline can reached by calling (337) 322-4525.
... written by Plumpy , October 28, 2010 - 06:23 pm
I got a answer for bullying . TEACH YOUR KID'S HOW TO FIGHT !
... written by @plumpy , October 29, 2010 - 02:20 am
So when my kid kicks your kids ass, that's ok with you right?
... written by Morrow , October 29, 2010 - 08:40 am
Example of bullying: shy, awkward boy, 14, mom dying of cancer, Mr. Cocky says "Tom, what do you think of the game coming up?" Tom starts to answer, then Mr. Cocky says, "Shut up Tom! No one cares what you think." THAT USED TO BE rude & hateful. Now, its carried to the extreme - continues via texting, facebook etc. Mr. Cocky keeps it up continuously, AT THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL no less. The girls are much worse. They know how to really get at the heart of the other girls. Mean girls say things like, "You're really good.", at dance review, then they laugh they heads off, to make sure she understands its not a compliment. Or, they say, "Oh, I like your hair." and laugh again. That kind of bullying, which many parents don't really see as bullying, goes on by "some of Lafayette's finest families", while Mom and Dad are at City Club or Junior League. Just get your kid to stop that, and a LOT of bullying goes away. There is no reason or sense in being mean, cruel, rude, sarcastic.
... written by Tonya LaCoste , October 29, 2010 - 09:16 am
Plumpy! You can't be serious???
... written by Plumpy , October 29, 2010 - 01:27 pm
LoL @plump. ..ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE..It's been the law of the land since beginning of time..It's also called "COMMON SENSE"..Animal's have this instinct to fight for their survival NO MATTER HOW LARGE THEIR ATTACKER IS! Why not human's ? Kid's are being taught to become a bunch of wimps ..It's no wonder why the cancer called Islam is growing in america ..It's no wonder why the federal government is growing LARGER ! Anglo children are being taught not to resist . But, to try to reason with their opposition. To talk nice and even learn to conform..I call it "THE FEMINIZATION OF MAN". I'm convinced this is a liberal plot to turn our future leader's and citizen's into conformist's (WUSSIES). TEACHING YOUR KID'S TO FIGHT AND RESIST, IS THE ONLY ANSWER TO COMBAT BULLYING ! ONCE A BULLY SEE'S YOUR WILLING TO STEP UP AGAINST THEM . THEY WILL BACK OFF !.... ONLY THE STRONG WILL SURVIVE ....
... written by ragin_cajun , October 29, 2010 - 02:45 pm
We need to separate some things out, and I'm very disappointed in the press, AOC, and Family Tree for not effectively doing this yet. I've read the last article about this, and I've heard the discussion on KPEL this morning with AOC and the Family Tree psychologist.
Kids have every right to say whatever they want to other kids. If what they say is mean, so what!? What kids, and adults, have NO RIGHT to do is to initiate physical force, or threaten physical force, in a civilized society. That should be the clear, bright line that is used to control this behavior in our society, and in our schools. That line is already clearly enshrined in law, and that law was enforced at the school in Youngsville.
Once again this morning, I heard on the radio alot of other issues being dragged into this that I think are unnecessary--gay rights/homophobia, "diversity", teen suicide. These things make a very simple issue much more controversial, and complicated, than it needs to be. I also heard that the schools shouldn't have to deal with this, and have little responsibility in this--it's "society's responsibility". Once again, taking a very specific problem in a very specific place and making it something that needs to be addressed by "society at large"? Not wise, and not helpful.
I think "we" can get results if "we" sharpen our focus, precisely define our terms and the problem, and clearly and boldly state how "we" will respond to the problem. I think "we" will veer way off course if "we" bring into this a bunch of "larger social issues" and "ideological baggage".
By "we", I mean Family Tree, the school system, law enforcement, concerned parents, local news outlets and AOC, and anyone else who chooses to "go public" and "get involved with this issue". "We" are adults dealing with kids--so let's act like it. Let's set an example for our kids by showing them how to calmly and effectively face a problem and solve it. Kids need to see that now more than ever.
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