Youth council takes anti-bullying message to younger students

LEWISTON — “Keep in Mind; Be Kind” was the anti-bullying message that the 11-member Lewiston Youth Advisory Council shared with students at Montello Elementary School on May 3.

LYAC members did presentations for kindergarten, third grade and sixth grade students, including talking about bullying and ways to stop it, doing skits, asking students to write anti-bullying skits, providing an opportunity for students to sign an “I’m a Be Kind Kid” pledge card, showing anti-bullying video clips and asking the students to participate in writing/drawing exercises about kindness and ways to help stop bullying.

Written comments/artwork done by students will be assembled into an anti-bullying booklet to be prepared by LYAC.

One of the student skits focused on the importance of “Stop, Walk, & Talk” in a bullying situation, and LYAC members acted out what the students had written. In addition, students wrote responses to the questions, “How can you be kind; how can you help stop bullying?”

Samples of the responses from 6th grade students in Michelle Agate’s class were:

“I can stop bullying by standing up to bullies and getting help when you need it. If we all stop bullying, we can all make a change. Caring about other people and being respectful would help a lot. So not bullying would be kind.”

“I can help stop bullying by spreading the word that bullying is not cool, even though people may think it makes them cool.”

“Don’t walk away. Do something about it. One way I will be kind is stop sticking around and laughing. Tell an adult. Bullying hurts!”

“You can be kind by treating everyone you know with respect.”

By the end of the presentations, students were shouting out, “Keep in Mind; Be Kind” amidst high fives and handshakes, with lots of hugs given to LYAC members by kindergarten students. Stickers and rubber bracelets with the “Keep in Mind; Be Kind” message, compliments of the Lewiston Firefighters Association, were also distributed.