Scottsdale school pairs with Cartoon Network to prevent bullying
Oct 21, 2014, 5:16 PM | Updated: 5:16 pm
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Students at a Scottsdale middle school heard first-hand accounts of why there’s no place for bullying in school on Tuesday.
More than 800 students gathered in the gymnasium of Mohave Middle School near McDonald Drive and the Loop 101 to hear from former students and speakers about the issue of bullying.
“We got them in this gymnasium to hear a fantastic message about speaking up when they’re feeling disrespected, bullied, harassed (or) intimidated,” said principal Chris Asmussen.
One of the speakers at the assembly was Don Logan, a former diversity director for the city of Scottsdale.
Logan told the students that he has survived many forms of bullying in his life, from being bullied as a child to even surviving a mail bombing from alleged white supremacists in 2004.
Logan said it is important for kids not to tolerate bullying.
“Bullying is a sad part of life and I just find that I get much more gratification when I stand up to it as opposed to allowing it to happen,” he said.
With many school resources and attention being given to the issue of bullying, Logan said students need to take advantage of them and tell adults if they or someone they know is being bullied.
The event was organized by Cox Communications and Cartoon Network as part of the network’s “Stop Bullying: Speak Up” campaign.
Asmussen said kids should not feel ashamed if they seek help for themselves or others when it comes to bullying.
“Don’t feel intimated (and) that you should not say something, rather, feel empowered,” he said.