Tailgate party to prevent bullying - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Tailgate party to prevent bullying

Wearing shirts that read, "step up, bullying stops now," dozens of people from the Springfield community came together to spread the word; bullying will not be tolerated.

"Our primary goal is to provide a continuum of care for students who are victims, but also to empower students to recognize the signs and the symptoms," Dr. Michael O'Shea, the Assistant Superintendent of Springfield Local Schools said.

This year, the school system implemented the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.  It's designed to reduce opportunities for bullying by teaching faculty and staff how to recognize and then how to help, and the same goes for the students.

"Research is pretty clear that the majority of kids would like to intervene, they would like to do something," Dr. O'Shea said.  "But they either don't know how or they're worried about retaliation."

Many parents are on board saying, the program started the conversation at home.

"We're recognizing, we're also talking about what to do if some of their friends see kids being bullied," Ann Bailey, mother of two, said.

While school leaders are optimistic about prevention in the classroom, leaders say they also need the continued support of the entire community.

"We're hopeful that over time we can curtail some of this activity going on that we don't like," Dr. O'Shea said.