Local News

Wednesday, December 26, 2007 Students learn about cyber bullying by Karin L. Nauber Shanterra McBride, a spokesperson for Unicel's StandUp! Program, visited Eagle Valley schools on Wednesday, December 12 to talk to students in the elementary and high school about cyber bullying. McBride spoke to the 5th and 6th graders in the morning, middle school and high school students in the afternoon and had a session available for parents and other adults in the evening. Principal Deanna Mattson-Millar said that when these sessions became available, she wanted them at Eagle Valley because of some incidents which had occurred in the high school last year. She also said that three incidents had happened so far this fall. I attended the morning session with the 5th and 6th graders. McBride asked the students to do some different exercises to think about teasing and being bullied and being a bully. After she asked the kids to close their eyes, she asked them to raise their hands if they had ever been teased or made fun of. When they opened their eyes and looked at everyone who also had their hands up they seemed surprised to see that so many of them had been victims of teasing or bullying. Then McBride asked them to close their eyes and raise their hands if they had ever teased someone or made fun of someone. Again, many hands went up. Again, the look of surprise when they looked around at themselves. From there, McBride asked the kids how it felt to be bullied and again how it felt to be a bully. Some of the responses the kids had for when they were being a bully were: powerful, controlling, satisfied and popular. Later she talked to them about cyber bullying which is a new way that bullying and teasing is being done through e-mail, cell phones, popular friend sites and other parts of the Internet. She said that this type of bullying has tended to hurt people more than the face-to-face bullying because it gets around to more people. If you are being bullied, McBride said that telling someone was important. Students agreed they could tell their parents, a teacher or another responsible adult. She also said that if the kids wanted to stop bullying, they could do so by not sending on damaging e-mail or messages. "You can't control everybody else, but you can control yourself. You don't have to participate in gossip and you don't have to take it," she told students. There are some good tips and advice for youth and adults on the Unicel website located at: www.unicel.com/standup. McBride is the founder and director of PLOT-Preparing Leaders Of Today, a company committed to inspiring young people to be more than what's expected, more than what's required, and more than what's modeled. She is a sought-after speaker on youth leadership and youth issues, such as cliques, friendships, social hierarchies, and teen relationships and how they relate to gender aggression. McBride speaks throughout the country at universities, corporations, schools, associations and churches. Past clients include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the US Department of Education, University of Syracuse, DC Public Schools and Washington Association of Independent Schools. She has been interviewed by various media, including National Public Radio, Essence magazine, and various CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC affiliates. Originally from Dallas, Texas, McBride received a B.A. in Sociology and a B.A. in Public Affairs and Corporate Communications from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Though she received a scholarship to SMU in vocal performance, her commitment to youth leadership and community change lead her to explore other options. She is a Best Practices Trainer for Advancing Youth Development and the ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program. McBride is a consultant with the Empower Program, a nonprofit organization in Washington, DC who works with youth to end the culture of violence. She is also a Master Educator for the Empower Training Institute. McBride also volunteers for several organizations.