Clear Fork High School students Aja Perry and Chelsea Wertz set an example for other students, as well as adults: when you witness bullying, do something about it.
“My friend Chelsea and I saw bullying happen, and we’d never seen that before in Clear Fork. We were really shocked by how mean people could be,” said Perry. “We told the boys to stop, and we talked to multiple teachers about it because we were really upset. One of them had the idea that we should start something like this so it won’t be as much of an issue.”
What the girls started was Clear Fork’s “Anti-Bully Committee.” In October, which has been deemed National Bully Prevention Month, the students sought and received approval from the Clear Fork Valley Local Schools Board of Education (BOE) to begin their efforts to take a stand against bullying.
Hannah Bloir, a member of the “Anti-Bully Committee”, noted, “You just don’t think of students stepping up like that. Aja and Chelsea saw a problem and they dealt with it.”
Bullying, according to the by-laws of the committee, is defined as a form of aggressive behavior manifested by the use of force or coercion to affect others, particularly when the behavior is habitual and involves an imbalance of power.
The committee produced pamphlets and hung up posters to make their presence known. They sold “Stomp Out Bullying” bracelets, held a charity “powder puff” football game, a Pep Rally Flash Mob, and many other endeavors to raise awareness.
At the end of November, twenty-four members were inducted into the organization with a pizza party and induction ceremony. The members represented each grade as well as most of the school’s intercurricular and extracurricular activities.
Rachael Titko, Clear Fork High School English teacher, was appointed Advisor to the “Anti-Bully Committee.”
“Clear Fork High School’s Anti-Bully Committee takes bullying very seriously because it is an important issue that affects many students,” noted Titko. “Bullying is not just something that happens at school. It happens online, on the school bus, and many other venues. Our students want to help those dealing with it whether they are getting bullied or they are the bully.”
The “Anti-Bully Committee” also intends to institute a peer mentorship program for freshman. A committee member would be matched with a group of freshmen and would assist in guiding them through their entrance to high school, as well as teaching them to recognize, prevent, and deal with bullying.
Bloir said, “The vision would be to be able to be there for those kids who need help, who don’t think they have anyone to go to.”
Perry noted she had not witnessed any bullying before or since the episode that inspired the “Anti-Bully Committee.”
“From what other people are saying, they like what we are doing,” said Perry. “They think it’s going to be something really good; something that will make a difference in the bullying at Clear Fork.”
Titko commented that such committees can reach beyond Clear Fork, “Other schools can start a similar committee by holding an interest meeting for students that would be interested, serious, and passionate about dealing with and preventing bullying. Through that meeting, they can start their own student-led committee and tailor their activities and events to their school and community needs.”
“Clear Fork isn’t a big school for bullying, but some other schools are, and it would be nice if they had something to stop bullying,” noted Perry.
“There really is a big need for something for kids that are willing. It’s hard to stand up and say, ‘You shouldn’t be doing that,’ because you just want to fit in, because that’s how high school is,” added Bloir.
Committee members noted that, in addition to Titko, Clear Fork High School English teacher Tracy Burkepile and Assistant Principal Shawn Ramion were instrumental in the organization of the group.
The committee made a second presentation to the BOE in January, complete with PowerPoint. The BOE noted they were impressed with the hard work and enthusiasm shown by the students in their efforts to end bullying.
“I applaud you all for what you are doing,” said BOE President Jim DeSanto.
For more information on bullying and how to prevent it, visit www.stopbullying.gov
“You just don’t think of students stepping up like that. Aja and Chelsea saw a problem and they dealt with it,” said Hannah Bloir.
