Bullying

Cameron Feeser, left, and Andrew Frantz, both sixth-graders, 

paint each others faces during a workshop Friday 

at York Suburban Middle School. The school hosted "Caught in the Middle Day,

" where students attended workshops that were offered in their interests for careers, 

hobbies, health habits, sports or community education.

Anti-bullying program focuses on interacting, involvement

York, PA - It is one of the basic rules of improvisation. The "Yes, and ..." rule requires that those setting up a comedic sketch never say no. The participants accept what a person creates and build on the scene.

"It's about teamwork. You need to work together to make the scene," said Shannon Hallisey, director of education at DreamWrights Youth and Family Theater, to a room of students decked out in black and orange.

The themes of teamwork and acceptance were some of the blanket messages Friday over York Suburban Middle School's "Caught in the Middle Day," the kick-off event for the school's People Respecting Individual Difference Everyday (PRIDE) program, now in its 10th year at the school.

David Ilayan, 12, follows Unique Physique Zumba instructor 

Bonnie Lauer as she leads a workshop Friday at York 

Suburban Middle School. Research shows students 

who are involved in their community or a sport are less likely 

to be involved in behavior that leads to bullying and crime.

Marlana Fells giggles as she plays an improv 

game with fellow seventh-grader Dilly-Ann Fells 

during a workshop lead by DreamWrights Youth and Family 

Theater at York Suburban Middle School Friday. Students attended 

workshops geared toward their interests, because research shows 

those who are involved are less likely to be involved in bullying and crime.

During the day, students attended three different workshops out of a selection of more than 30 ranging in subjects from tennis, fencing and kickboxing to cooking, art and acting. The workshops were lead by local instructors and professionals with the goal of getting students interested in community organizations and activities.

"Research shows us that it reduces their chance of doing drugs, bullying, anything like that. So, we really tapped into that concept," said BethAnn Pratte, PRIDE coordinator.

Anti-bullying has been a large part of education culture for the past decade, but came into sharper focus locally after the May 2 suicide of Ambriel Bowen, a 14-year-old student at New Hope Charter School, whose family said her suicide was the result of bullying.

Along with other activities during the year, the school created the Alliance Program which pairs a teacher with 15 students through all three years the student is at the school. The students meet with their Alliance teacher monthly to discuss topics like principles, relationships and mission statements. For Pratte, the importance of having a program like PRIDE is essential.

"To me, it's the foundation of a middle school. It's having that mentor, a relationship with an adult," Pratte said. Pratte has heard success stories from students who have returned. One former student who had considered suicide, but said discussions with their Alliance teacher made him reconsider.

"If they're not feeling safe or accepted, they're not going to be learning," Pratte said.

Caught in the Middle Day is a chance for all students, sixth to eighth grades, to mix and interact.

"It helps us do stuff with other people. We see what their personalities are and have fun with them, not just go to class with them," Jennifer Seabra, 13, said after tie-dyeing a T-shirt black and orange. The eighth-grader said bullying happens in the school, but not anything severe, mostly comments and jokes.

"(Bullies) think it's a joke. They may have a smile on their face, and act like it's OK, but it's hurting them," Jennifer said.

If a student does see or hear any bullying or other problem behavior such as drug use or the carrying of a weapon on school grounds, they are taught to tell someone. "We teach them that a bystander hears and sees things, and then has a choice to make," Pratte said. 

Unique Physique Zumba instructor Bonnie Lauer leads 

a workshop at York Suburban Middle School Friday. 

The workshop was one of many during "Caught in the Middle Day," 

which was geared at getting kids involved and away from crime and bullying. 

"Zumba fosters fun and friendship. It gives them a place to be and a place to belong," Lauer said.

The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

The Olweus Bully Prevention Program is a program designed to curb or stop bullying in elementary and middle schools, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It targets children and teens ages 6 to 15 years old. The program focuses on intervention at three levels -- schoolwide, classroom and individual.

In 1983, three teenage boys committed suicide in Norway after being bullied by peers. In response, the country's Ministry of Education commissioned Professor Dan Olweus from the University of Bergen to conduct a research and intervention project. The resulting program has since been used throughout Norway as well as the United States, Great Britain, Ireland and Germany.

Both the PRIDE program at York Suburban and the anti-bullying program in Northeastern School District are based on the Olweus program. 

Northeastern's recognition

The Northeastern School District has been named a "No Place for Hate" district for three years, and the middle school for seven. To receive the title, a school must incorporate three different anti-bullying programs throughout the year.

"It's really just become part of our culture," said Northeastern Middle School Assistant Principal Ben Ruby. "It's never done. It's not something you check off. (Students) need to be constantly reminded."