Team Effort in Springdale to Take Down Bullying
By: Marissa Stevens, KNWA-TV, Fayetteville
Updated: September 19, 2012
Students in Springdale are standing up and speaking out against bullying.
"It is hard and it is scary sometimes, especially when you have to stand up alone and that's why you need to stand up together," says Sonora Elementary School Counselor Janelle Addington.
Kids are facing the reality of teasing and taunting not only on campus, but on the computer.
"I know my kids have email accounts, they're online, they're on Facebook," says parent Carrie Terwilliger.
"We need to teach them as early as now so they are more aware of it when they get into middle school and junior high. They need to have the tools and the knowledge to know what to do and what not to do," says Detective Travis Monson with the Springdale Police Department.
Monson believes parents play an important role in the anti-cyber bullying effort.
"Be nosy, be involved in their kids' lives, ask them questions and if they're not going to answer those questions, be a detective, snoop into their private life, they have that right to protect their children," he says.
But in the classroom, 5th graders at Sonora Elementary are standing up for each other.
"Whatever part you are in the bullying circle, you shouldn't be the bully or the follower... If I were to see somebody getting bullied then I would know how to react to it," says 5th grader Lindsey Terwilliger.
"If you don't it'll get worse and worse," says 5th grader Kalob Kindle.
The Sonora Scholars took a Bullying Prevention Pledge on Tuesday, and are working together to make a difference.
"I will not bully others. I will try to help other kids who are being bulled. I will try to include other kids who are being left out. If I know another kid is being bullied, I will tell an adult."
American Taekwondo Association taught the kids how to respond to physical and verbal bullying, and how to recognize bullying. Cox Communications, the Springdale Police Department, and Congressman Steve Womack's Office all teamed up with Sonora Elementary to make this event happen.
"It is hard and it is scary sometimes, especially when you have to stand up alone and that's why you need to stand up together," says Sonora Elementary School Counselor Janelle Addington.
Kids are facing the reality of teasing and taunting not only on campus, but on the computer.
"I know my kids have email accounts, they're online, they're on Facebook," says parent Carrie Terwilliger.
"We need to teach them as early as now so they are more aware of it when they get into middle school and junior high. They need to have the tools and the knowledge to know what to do and what not to do," says Detective Travis Monson with the Springdale Police Department.
Monson believes parents play an important role in the anti-cyber bullying effort.
"Be nosy, be involved in their kids' lives, ask them questions and if they're not going to answer those questions, be a detective, snoop into their private life, they have that right to protect their children," he says.
But in the classroom, 5th graders at Sonora Elementary are standing up for each other.
"Whatever part you are in the bullying circle, you shouldn't be the bully or the follower... If I were to see somebody getting bullied then I would know how to react to it," says 5th grader Lindsey Terwilliger.
"If you don't it'll get worse and worse," says 5th grader Kalob Kindle.
The Sonora Scholars took a Bullying Prevention Pledge on Tuesday, and are working together to make a difference.
"I will not bully others. I will try to help other kids who are being bulled. I will try to include other kids who are being left out. If I know another kid is being bullied, I will tell an adult."
American Taekwondo Association taught the kids how to respond to physical and verbal bullying, and how to recognize bullying. Cox Communications, the Springdale Police Department, and Congressman Steve Womack's Office all teamed up with Sonora Elementary to make this event happen.
