Community Anti-Bullying Rally at BHS: 'It's Up to Us to Stop It'

Photo: Bolingbrook trustees Maria Zarate and Pat Schanks sign a One Voice—Strengthening Society (OVSS) club pledge to “stand up” for bullying victims during an anti-bullying rally at Bolingbrook High School Saturday.

Submitted by Valley View School District:

Parents, teachers, administrators and the community must work together in a massive nationwide effort to eliminate bullying.

That was the central message Saturday during an Anti-Bullying Rally and Family Festival co-sponsored by the Bolingbrook High School PTA and the Walgreen’s Expressions Challenge Initiative.

While urging parents to become more involved in the lives of their children, keynote speaker Dwayne Bryant told those in attendance “we are in an all-out war.”

“Bullying is a national epidemic according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) because it is the third largest cause of death for young people,” the President of Inner Vision International said, pointing out that an estimated 160,000 students stay home from school every day because they are being bullied. “You think you know what your child is doing? You don’t.”

“The village takes the bullying problem very seriously. It’s important that we stop it,” said Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar. “Kids who are being bullied need to feel comfortable in reaching out to an adult for help. And that adult has to do something about it. They just can’t say ‘it will go away’ because it doesn’t. It’s up to us to intervene.”

Speakers, including Martina Smith from Expressions Challenge, PTA President Robin Lichty, Bolingbrook Public Safety Director Tom Ross, State Rep. Natalie Manley, BHS Principal Yolanda Jordan and representatives from the BHS One Voice—Strengthening Society (OVSS) club, a recently formed anti-bullying group, all sounded the call to arms.

“Bullying has serious implications on the lives of our families and children,” Rep. Manley said. “When you’re being bullied, you feel so alone. You feel ashamed. You feel small.”

“You have to stand up for people who are being bullied because often they don’t have the courage to stand up for themselves,” Bryant added.

Smith revealed details of the Walgreen’s Expressions Challenge that will award almost $60,000 in scholarships to high school students next winter.

“Our focus is on helping teens make healthy choices,” she said. “Through artistic expression, we want to give them a voice so they can talk about issues such as bullying and self esteem that impact their self esteem.”