Salem middle school first in country to try new anti-bullying campaign
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SALEM, Ore. -- Inside the crowded hallways of Leslie Middle School, bullying exists -- in a new way.
Like most schools, social media has transformed how students are bullied and how school administrators can respond. One comment or post, spread at the speed of teenager texting, can have disastrous results.
That’s why this middle school decided to stay ahead of the issue and became the first school in the United States to use a program called “Zero,” as in zero tolerance. The program is offered by the local company, Columbia Educational Designs.
Modeled after similar programs in Norway that have seen success, Zero tailors its anti-bullying strategies to each school and to each student.
Leslie Middle School kicked off the campaign at an assembly Tuesday.
The program began in Norway after passage of a law that guaranteed a threat-free education for all students following a number of bullying tragedies.
“Starting with the head of the government on down into the school districts, they’ve actually impressed upon their universities the need to develop programs specifically addressed at working with these kinds of situations,” said Pete Teller, the school’s counselor.
The unique aspect of “Zero” is that it can be customized. At Leslie, students called ‘peer helpers’ wear purple T-shirts and can be called upon to offer support to other students.
“I feel like it’s more helpful for students to be talking to students about situations – like helping them out – ‘cause they’ll really take it in,” said student peer helper Emani Price.
KATU is reporting on a series of stories on Wednesday centered on the International Stand Up Bullying Day. We’ll have special coverage on all of our shows.
it,s about time someone took being a bully series and are trying to put a stop to bullying=it hurts to be bullied
@mactweetie there's some good news. Middle school, especially, can be a special hell for many kids. Yay for Salem.
@augtopia I know! I almost teared up reading about it. Awesome kids! (Thanks for spreading the word.) #NObullies
Essentially creating gangs to gang up on bullies. Strength in numbers.
Common among bullies anxiety, hyperactivity. Kids pick up on what parents are doing and saying at home so dysfunctional families breed bullies. And what's on the rise in America (world)? - mental illness. So this is a loosing battle.
Anti-bullying IS bullying. Â This is just another form of bullying is EXACTLY right. Â This mentality is just stupid. Â "Oh well we CAN tell them what to do, but they CANNOT tell us what to do." Â This form of reasoning is ludicrous. Â Forcing people to act in manners that they would not otherwise act in IS bullying. Â
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@Pers Retiree See kids, here is the prime example of bullying behind a faked account, or what we will now call "dickless".
@Benjamin Schniffle Its fun getting a "rise" out of you morons who choose to reply and i know i am making your blood pressure rise which i find thrilling! Â
Good idea actually. Yes, bullies have been around for ages, but it does not make it good. Kids and adults also need to work together to stand up to bullies. If people allow the bullies to continue, there will be more trouble.
Good luck to them in their campaign!!
maybe more self esteem building treats, stars and prizes could be utilized. "johhny gets a balloon today because he didnt kick the sheet out of bobby"    polite applause from the 8th grade class
@Pers Retiree I've noticed that it's your prerogative to post crazy things to incite responses.
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@Morticae "hollow point" was my porrn name in the early 80's . coinkydink?  i dont think so. remember me in "the naughty republican librarian cheerleader pizza delivery chick"? it was huge in canada.
@Pers Retiree Case in point!
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@feral I like to have the balloon make the shrieking sound by holding the labia of the balloon just right as the air escapes.  doesnt everyone though?  thoughts/prayers
all students should be required to pack heat. then one student could initiate an "official challenge to any other student to have an old style quick draw shootout in the gym at assemblies. if the student turned down the offer his or her name is announced as being a chicken on morning announcements. Â
@Pers Retiree That would certainly cut down on the long lunch lines.
I like the picture of worthy and courage. No teaching of stand up to bullys. The government likes it when people do not stand up to them.
@Bert How can you stand up to something that doesn't exist?Â
When did bullying start?
@Bert When dick envy did.
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@feral I view it more like we (USA) aren't bullying other countries. We are simply counter-bullying.
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@feral @TreeWizard Am not saying that. I think you misunderstand me good sir.
@feral Are you calling Obama a bully? you must be racists
@Bert @feral Obama is the worst kind of bully. the Am not a bully, bully.
@feral How so?
This type program is being adopted all over the US and it makes a lot of sense. There is absolutely NO chance of dealing with this problem without getting the kids involved. They see and know more about these issues than school officials ever will. If it saves some good kids from suicide, why not give it a try? The problem will be will be how to prevent the kids from becoming little nazis, but hell, that's what some of the school administrators and teachers have become.
I don't know what to think. Bullying isn't all that new. I was bullied in grade school and high school in the 70's. Made fun of, laughed at, pushed in the hallways, a lot of us were treated like that by the 'bully kids'. . The teachers didn't do anything, our parents didn't do anything, it was just considered part of growing up. We didn't go out an jump off bridges, or grab guns and start shooting. We just never went to any of the reunions! LOL! But seriously, we all grew up normal and productive members of society.  Â
what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. that's what my nanna used to tell me
@Phuzz People in comas might disagree
@Bert @Phuzz How? They're still alive.
@Phuzz That's true with chicken pox!
shock treatment for bullies! let the victims crank the dial up as they please. it can be a pep rally halftime show
@Phuzz Or and am just spit balling here. We just electroshock all the kids?Â
@TreeWizard @Phuzz naw, just the ones that need the therapy. perhaps a few of the teachers though:)Â
Sorry Liberals, but you can't have it both ways.
You're the ones who have taken away discipline and given the lowlife superiority complexes through entitlement, thereby making bullies out of them. And now you want them to stop doing what they've been programmed to do by the liberal media?
I hope the purple shirts are carrying brass knuckles, they're gonna need them.
@Lo PanÂ
Uh...not letting teachers beat our kids is a good thing. Â And spanking creates bullies. Â You are, as you always are, wrong about everything.
@Diogenes @Lo Pan I was spanked as a child and those who know me would say I am anything but a bully. Spanking, when used correctly, is a good form of discipline.
@Diogenes @theprodigal @Lo Pan When have I bullied people on this forum? I have stated my views, period.
@Diogenes @TreeWizard @theprodigal @Lo Pan Well they should have just been better. Also if it wasn't for bullying we wouldn't have William Wallace, so I guess it's pretty great.
@TreeWizard @Diogenes @theprodigal @Lo PanÂ
They didn't just let them loose, they didn't let them come BACK. Â Kids over 12 weren't allowed back into Sparta until they'd finished training. Â LOTS of those kids died.
@theprodigal @Diogenes @Lo PanÂ
My school record would prove I'm the Queen of the Universe, so there. Â Anecdotal evidence is always crap on an Internet comment site. Â What matters is how you act here, not who you are out there. Â Duh.
@Diogenes @TreeWizard @theprodigal @Lo Pan Hey, They were not homosexual they were simply bi-curious. How is  letting your kid loose in the woods at 12 not a good idea? Wish someone would have let me loose in the woods. They also had one of the most effective armies of the time, and I believe lead the way in State pride.Â
@Diogenes @theprodigal @Lo Pan "Of course you were a bully." My school record would prove you wrong.
@TreeWizard @Diogenes @theprodigal @Lo PanÂ
Yeah, they also killed all deformed babies and turned their kids loose in the woods at the age of 12. Â NOT good parents. Â Plus, all Spartan warriors were homosexual. Â Think about that. Â Wood.
@Diogenes @TreeWizard @theprodigal @Lo Pan Spartiates  let their kids beat each other up at the Agoge and they turned out alright. Â
@TreeWizard @theprodigal @Diogenes @Lo PanÂ
Actually, it is what it's always been, kids who learn how to hit from their parents bringing it to school. Â It's a form of dominance (not the good kind, perv), which is why bullies move on to other victims when you stand up to them. Â Beating on kids who will cower if a LOT more fun than risking getting punched in the nose.
@theprodigal @Diogenes @Lo Pan We have bullies because to many kids suffer from ADD and ADHD. Lets just drug'em up.
@theprodigal @Diogenes @Lo Pan Spanking should be kept in the bedroom.Â
@theprodigal @Diogenes @Lo PanÂ
You're a jackal. Â Of course you were a bully. Â All right wing authoritarians are. Â It's part of persecuting the out group. Â Your behavior on this site on any number of threads proves it.
@Lo Pan They carry rainbow farts and lollipop smiles.