 STOP
BULLYING HANDBOOK REACHES OVER 2,000 STUDENTS IN FIRST
PRINTING
In response to headlines attributing several teen
suicides to bullying, a new "Stop Bullying Handbook,"
created specifically for teens and tweens, was released
Feb. 10 during National Stop Bullying Week. This is the
first resource of its kind to guide teens and tweens in
helping each other deal with this sensitive subject, and
has already reached over 2,000 students.
Bullying is a critical issue facing students today.
Approximately 864,000 teens stay home one day a month
because they fear for their safety and nearly 5.7
million kids and teens are bullies, have been bullied, or
both. Too often, bullying leads to loss of self-esteem,
depression and even suicide among victims, according to
experts.
"The Stop Bullying Handbook guides teens and tweens in
forming a Hey U G L Y Stop Bullying Task Force and
connects them to the worldwide movement to end bullying,"
explained Betty Hoeffner, author of the handbook and
president/co-founder of Hey UGLY, Inc. Hoeffner's
organization helps teens and tweens counter bullying,
obesity, racism and suicide by enabling students to
become part of the solution. She worked with area
students to come up with the structure for the handbook.
Task force members bond with each other through a
 series
of questions and exercises that help them deal with
stress and give them an outlet for expressing feelings
through art and writing. Throughout the handbook, student
task forces are encouraged to e-mail thoughts and
suggestions to Hey, UGLY. Upon completion of the
handbook, task force members receive certificates,
T-shirts, ID cards and access to an exclusive Web site
for use by registered task force members only.
By using the handbook, students learn:
o The reasons people bully
o To understand who the bully chooses to target and
why
o How to spot the most common forms of bullying --
verbal and physical abuse, social alienation,
intimidation and cyber bullying
o How to avoid and protect themselves and others
from bullies
o To take responsibility for their own bullying
tendencies and how to choose to change their behavior
o To understand and curb self bullying (negative
self talk)
o What to do when bullying happens to them
o What to do if they see someone being bullied.
During a recent study, Dewey Cornell, an education
professor at the University of Virginia, found that
students do better when bullying isn't a threat. "As
schools look for ways to improve academic performance,
they cannot overlook the importance of a safe, supportive
climate," Cornell said.
Students who have graduated from Hey U G L Y's Stop
Bullying Program have a lot to say about it.
"I think now that we've done Hey U G L Y we feel more
like friends," explained 13-year-old Chloe. "We have
higher self-esteem for one thing and we know how much it
hurts another person to bully them."
"When you bully you kind of ruin yourself," said Brad.
"You hurt yourself after you bully each time."
Fourteen year-old Maddy says, "I think we all changed. We
all learned that it's really bad to bully and how it
hurts each other, people and ourselves. Now we know not
to do it anymore."
The dedication page in the handbook honors the teens
whose lives' were lost to suicide because of bullying.
Ms. Hoeffner almost lost a teen that was very close to
her to suicide and she has dedicated her life to helping
youth have the tools to not feel so bad about themselves
that they would resort to that.
Want to stop bullying at your school?
Have your teacher or principal contact us at
HeyUGLY@heyugly.org to learn
about our
powerful Stop Bullying Presentation and programs featuring
award-winning speaker, Sporty King.
Hey U G L Y's co-founder, Sporty King
Sporty grew up with low
self-esteem in Harlem, NY. He shares how he turned that negative
into a positive with his "How to be U G L Y" anti-bullying
presentation. After he speaks you will be able to:
â— Understand the reasons people bully
â— Recognize who the bully targets and why
â— Help avoid and protect themselves and others from bullies
â— Take responsibility for your own bullying tendencies and learn how
to 'choose to change' your behavior
â— Know what to do when bullying happens to you and how to help others
that are being bullied.
You will love his message. It will stay with you for a lifetime.
Just email us at
heyugly@heyugly.org or call us at 219.778.2011.
Hey U G L Y's Stop Bullying Task Force
from St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Michigan City, Indiana
(Pictured Left to Right) Kneeling: Carrie Miller/Teacher, Betty
Hoeffner/Hey U G L Y, Inc. president and co-founder; Front Row:
Matt N., Scott S., Adrienne F., Olivia H., Sydney S., Skyler L.;
Back Row: Alex M., Connor P., Tony P., Dr. Sue Bryant/School
Principal, Lindsey J., Silk H., Darria B., Elliott S., Alexcis
O., Mikey R., Matt P., Maddy W.
Want to participate in National Stop Bullying Day?
Click here
|
|
.jpg)
