Thursday, February 14, 2013

Bully for Happy Hearts

Gordon Russell Middle School in Gresham Oregon
Let me begin that our children are our greatest resource.  Their safety, their education, their health, and their happiness are something we all strive to protect  enhance and provide.  When that does not happen, we as a community are personally responsible.  Yesterday morning I attended an Anti-Bullying Assembly at Gordon Russell Middle School and it shook me to my core.  The statistics are appalling especially in relation to those same statistics less than 20 years ago in regards to suicide and self-mutilation.

The title of the Assembly was "Stand for Respect ....And Be the Change" it was inspired by the PLT and the PBIS Committees and led by School instructor Tim Tetz.  The featured speaker was Erin Van Horn-Wormer, a young man from Vancouver who lost his 14 year old sister to suicide.  Suicide, of course being the worst cast scenario, it was described to the students as a permanent fix, for a temporary situation.  Of course, why is this such a problem and why so severe....the answer may lie in it is easy to text, tweet, Facebook  etc. things that you would never say to another person's face.  We really don't have all the reasons why but know that the cure is in kindness.  One of the presentations showed how hurtful word processed thru the brain really do make your heart physically hurt!

So in closing and in celebration of a great leader - Martin Luther King, a quote...."History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people!"  Ashley, a true modern day hero used this quote today to describe part of her journey.  Don't be silent, use your words to make people's hearts feel better.