A major anti-bullying effort continues for another season in Buffalo. The month-long 'Bullying Stops Here' campaign was kicked off Friday at the downtown Central Library. In this Focus on Education report, WBFO's Eileen Buckley reports on how city school students participated in the event.
Local entertainer Kevin McCarthy's energized Bennett Park Montessori students, encouraged them to sign loud as they appeared in the library's Ring of Knowledge area. http://youtu.be/sEn9Gdt8Puo
The city students participated the upbeat event to help fight bullying. The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library launched Bullying Stops Here three years ago. Library System Director Mary Jean Jakubowski said last month the American Libraries Magazine recognized Buffalo's anti-bullying campaign nationally.
"I am extremely proud the Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries are leading the way as an example of a library system that is helping kids stand up to bullying," state Jakubowski.
The Buffalo Public Schools is one of the many community partners in working to prevent bullying. City schools assistant superintendent Will Keresztes led the students in a pledge during the kick-off.
"Bullying is wrong. Don't be silent. Confront it -- end it," said Keresztes.
Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz told students it’s important to stand up as a community to stop the bad effects of bullying.
"Did you ever hear the word deleterious?," Poloncarz asked the school students. "It means harmfully effects and you do not want to have harmful effects regarding any individual, so I think it is important that we all stand up and say bullying stops here."
After patiently listening to the adults’ anti-bullying messages the city school students returned to song, dance and laughter to send their anti-bullying message to the public.
