TEEN TRUTH in Stockton

January 18th, 2007

Bullying in high school is nothing new, but a Linden High School alumni and filmmaker has compiled teens’ views of the problem into a film designed to educate them about the affects of bullying on fellow students and their community.

Erahm Christopher’s film “Teen Truth” endeavors to inform teens about the four steps they can take to stifle bullying as well as the depression and anger that often follows such acts. The steps are: see the big picture, look at the issue, identify the problem and use problem solving strategies.

Christopher recently showed the film, which includes material from more than 80 hours of student footage, at Linden, Duncan-Russell and Escalon high schools. He described bullying as the process of mistreating someone in a more vulnerable position. Bullying includes spreading rumors, exclusion, intimidation, physical attacks and teasing/taunting.

The film asks students to analyze bullying situations, pick out the immediate problem and then put themselves in the bully’s shoes, hypothesizing as to why they feel the need to behave as they do. Afterwards, the video encourages teens to get help, be it a friend, a parent or a teacher.

“No one should ever have to deal with bullying alone,” Linden senior Megan Sanders, 17, said.

The film also discusses the impact bullying has on today’s youths. Christopher’s film attempts to educate administrators and students alike as to the signs and affects that bullying can wreck upon a community.

After the 1999 Columbine incident took America by surprise, Christopher and his producer, J.C. Pohl, decided to do a research project on the subject of teen violence and bullying. Fueled by the frustrating reality that most magazines and shows discussing the issue only talked to adults, they decided on a different approach – getting a teenager’s perspective on the matter.

As teen violence and bullying become more prevalent in our society, with approximately 40 school shootings in the past decade, “Teen Truth” impresses upon students the need to stand up for fellow classmates. “It does not take much to make a difference in someone’s life. It could be as simple as saying hello, making some connection with them,” Christopher said. “We get so wrapped up in our lives that we forget the impact we have and this film says be aware of that.”

Published by: The Stockton Record
Written by: Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato