Tracy High implements anti-bullying programs
Posters around Tracy High promotes Anti-Bullying
October 25, 2013
Each and every day there are students that go through bullying and although it can be difficult to stop, Tracy High is trying its best to end it. October is anti-bullying month and Tracy High School is stepping up to promote anti-bullying throughout the school in hopes to make a positive impact on students’ lives.
“With around 2,000 kids on campus, you’re going to have to some kids that are bullying others, but we can try and isolate a lot of that,” Lynn Dell Hawkins, assistant principal, said.
Programs, like the Bulldog Project, are something new Leadership class is doing to spread awareness about bullying. Students involved in the Bulldog Project are going to middle schools to perform skits and talk to the students about the dangers of bullying.
“The Bulldog Project involves talking to the middle school kids and making them feel secure and not scared or nervous for high school,” Bulldog Project founder Jeff Takahashi, a senior, said. “We want to help promote a friendly learning environment.”
“I think nothing but positive things towards the Bulldog Project,” Alayna Carter said. “The best way to get students to help stop bullying is to be pressured by other students to not do it anymore. This is the only way I think that something like this is going to be able to be stopped and contained.”
In addition, leadership is partnering up with Tracy Crime Stoppers to create a program called Bulldogs Speaking Out where you can call, text, or send a web tip anonymously to (209) 831-4847.
“If you know someone is being bullied, you can tell them submit a tip and it stays anonymous,” Takahashi said.
Bullying is a problem at schools and many things are being done to put an end to it. Bullying can happen anywhere, ranging from home to school.
“Once bullying starts, it gets into the school and we have to find a way to stop it,” Hawkins said.
Bullying brings in negativity and no matter if it’s a joke or not, bullying can really affect a persons feelings.
“Bullying is an unfortunate reality we have to deal with now on campuses,” Carter said. “Bullying is frustrating and preventable if we talk to kids and make sure kids understand that there are places they can go.”
“Bullying makes kids insecure and they can’t fully reach their potential,” Takahashi said. “Someone might be bullied and be afraid to talk, or someone won’t have friends because they’ll be afraid of what other will think of them.”
Students may feel scared or intimated to talk to the staff about it, but speaking up will help make the situation better.
“The administration can take the proper steps to let bullies know we are watching them and tell the bullies what their consequences will be if they continue to do it,” Hawkins said. “Talk to the staff, let the staff know what is going on, if we know about it, we can address it. If they’re afraid to tell us because they’re afraid, it’s going to get worse. The more people that step up and tell us who’s doing what, the easier it is for us to take care of the situation.”
Joining the Bulldog Project is one of the ways students can help promote anti-bullying as well as making small positive gestures towards other students can help.
“Try to reach out to somebody you normally wouldn’t and try to make an impact to make someone’s life more positive,” Takahashi said.
Bullying can happen to anyone and it can take one small gesture towards someone to turn a whole situation around.
“Nobody should be bullied, everyone deserves the right to worry-free education and there shouldn’t be anybody that makes you afraid to come to school,” Hawkins said.
