TEEN TRUTH in Reno

September 4th, 2008

“How many of you have ever been kicked, shoved, punched or bullied by someone else?” asked filmmaker Erahm Christopher.

One by one, more than 1,000 students and teachers stood up. The Sparks students reflected on violence and the consequences of bullying through a video presentation by Christopher, an award-winning Montreal filmmaker.

The presentation focused on bringing awareness to the various forms bullying can take, which include exclusion, spreading rumors and physical violence.

Being aware “I think (awareness) is so important because this monster of bullying is changing so rapidly,” Christopher said. “People don’t even realize when they’re being bullied.” Christopher presented a documentary, “Teen Truth — An Inside Look at Bullying and School Violence,” and used interactive discussions to teach students to identify the different forms of bullying, understand how bullying can lead to violence and motivate students to stop bullying from happening in their school.

The effect KaPreace Young, 11, a seventh grader at Mendive, said the presentation made her reflect on the derogatory names she has been called in school, and how she has bullied others. “It made me think I shouldn’t be such a bully,” Young said. “I don’t want to be the reason someone brings a gun to school.”

It’s easy to be a bully in middle school, Young said.

“Here at school, it’s … one of the best places to bully,” Young said. “You can bully someone, and they won’t tell anybody.”

Teen Truth will end its four-day run in Reno today with its final presentation at Cold Springs Middle School.

Published by: Reno Gazette-Journal
Written by: Cyndi Loza