By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-941093.mp3
Dallas, TX – Fort Worth's Eastern Hills Elementary school rolled out a rowdy, anti-bullying rally with enthusiastic responders - the kids. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports the school implemented the policy that's in place across the Fort Worth Independent School District.
The rally focused on all 535 of Eastern Hills' pre-k through 5th grade students. Every grade prepared its own cheer.
The elementary students were helped by older musicians and cheerleaders from Eastern Hills High School.
Several of the high schoolers, including musician Miranda Weller, know bullying, and what this rally is designed to prevent.
Miranda Weller: I've been bullied before. I tried to ignore it, but sometimes that doesn't always work. Normally, I just ignored it most of the time, but it does get to you, you know?
Eastern Hills Elementary Principal Paula Douglas says she's seen some bullying among the youngsters here, and the school has successfully instituted the three Rs policy... recognize, refuse, & report.
Douglas: We do have some issues on campus and we want to make sure the students feel safe when they come here. And so when school started I talked with the counselor & I wanted her to make sure the big push this year was for no bullying.
That's what Mattie Dean thinks too. Her grandchild attends Eastern Hills.
Dean: They do not tolerate it. My grandbaby's 10. She knows what bullying is, and knows when its uncomfortable. And she has not reported any bullying yet.
Principal Douglas says thanks to the anti-bullying plan, disciplinary problems at Eastern Hills has dropped significantly.