PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org
Bullying Prevention Web site for Teens
PACERTeensAgainstBullying.org
E-mail: bullying411@pacer.org
Mall of America’s Best Buy Rotunda on Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 4:15 to 5 p.m.
Bullying Prevention Navigation Menu
Special Live Event Held at MOA — The Time to Take Action Against Bullying is Now!
Teens Attend PACER’s Bullying Prevention Rally at Mall of America
When teenagers from around the metro went to the Mall of America after school on Oct 6, they had more on their minds than shopping. Teens filled the Best Buy Rotunda, taking a stand against bullying by signing a digital petition at a Bullying Prevention Awareness Week rally organized by PACER Center. As the Trent Romens’ Trio rock band composed of students from Edina High School played, teens lined up to sign the petition at a row of computers and pledge, “The end of bullying begins with me.”
Every day more than 160,000 children nationwide stay home from school to avoid bullying, says PACER’s Bullying Prevention Director Julie Hertzog, but half of bullying situations will stop if peers intervene. The fact that teens – and adults – can put a stop bullying was stressed by speaker Lynn Miland of Northfield, whose daughter with autism was verbally and physically bullied four years ago. Miland told the crowd that she worked with her school administration to create an environment that does not tolerate bullying.
“When I was teenager I was told that you either fight back or ignore bullying, but we know that doesn’t work,” she said. “What does work is creating an environment that does not accept bullying. It’s no longer acceptable to stand back and be quiet.”
Asking those attending the event to “look out for others, especially those that are more vulnerable,” she told a story about a high school student with special needs who was the manager of a basketball team.
“As you know, we are all susceptible to being targets of bullying, and people with disabilities are at a great risk. And this young man was no exception,” Miland said. “On his way to school one day, he was grabbed and shoved and beaten. One of the basketball players witnessed this act and ran out to get help. Seconds later, half of the basketball team showed up. They made it very clear to that bully that he needed to stop, because he was hurting a member of their team. Not all of us can have a basketball team come to our rescue, but if you’re being bullied or see another person being bullied, you need to speak up, you need to get help, you need talk to somebody.”
Singer Lindsay Rush of Philadelphia, who now tours with musician Pat Benatar, shared her experience of being bullied and performed the live premiere of a song she wrote called “Odd Girl Out.”
“We believe in the power of teens to change the world,” said Jeff Peterson of Best Buy, which supports PACER’s bullying prevention efforts. One way teens can help Best Buy support PACER and its new TeensAgainstBullying.org Web site is by going to at15.com and logging on. “Right now until the end of the October, teens can go online and basically vote for a share of $250,000 to be donated to PACER,” Peterson said. “And that’s Best Buy’s money.”
Adults, children, and teens can learn more about preventing bullying at PACERTeensAgainstBullying.org (for middle and high school students), PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org (for elementary school children), and at PACER.org.
PACER Center is a national parent center located in Minneapolis, Minn. Serving all youth, with a special emphasis on children with disabilities, it provides publications, workshops, individualized assistance, and other resources to help families make decisions about education, vocational training, employment, and other services for their children. To learn more, visit PACER.org or call 952-838-9000; 800-53-PACER (Minnesota toll free); and 888-248-0822 (national toll free).
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