"You Go Girls" Driving "Mean Girls" out of Schools

"Mean Girls" may be funny at the movies, but bullying in schools is not.

An elementary counselor in the Pulaski County Special School District is trying to reverse the trend, using some "You Go Girls" to drive the mean girls away.

Shara McCreery has two poster boards on the wall outside her office, where 4^th and 5^th grade girls are encouraged to come and write positive messages about each other.

And the girls like it.

"I think it's really cool," said one student after writing a message on the "You Go Girl" board.

"I think it's a good idea," said another, "because girls can express how they feel about and show how they appreciate each other."

McCreery says the 10- and 11-year-old girls are at an age when friendship become very important. She came up with the "You Go Girl" board as a way to teach them how to develop those friendships the right way, based on positive expressions of appreciation.

"...learning how to treat each other with kindness and and respect as they develop those groups," McCreery said.

The counselor has been pulling the girls out of class in groups of ten, and sits them in her office where she explains what the board is, and what she would like the students to do.

"It's for saying "thank you," she explained to a group Monday morning. "It's special. It's only for the 4th grade girls and the 5th grade girls."

Last week, State Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell talked to the State Board about the growing problem of cyberbullying in Arkansas schools, particularly among girls.

McCreery wants girls to learn the right way to post public messages, and understand the profound impact they can have on their peers.

"It felt good," a student said after leaving a message on the board. "It felt good to express our feelings".