PEYTON, Colo. (Aug. 13, 2013) – "Words are very strong, and those words stay with people for a long time," said Thomas Russell, a technology teacher at Falcon High School, explaining the upcoming anti-bullying concert in Falcon School District 49.
"I've talked with plenty of adults who used to be bullies themselves, and they told me that if they could take those words back, if they could take the way they treated those people back, they would,” said Russell. “And they still feel bad, years later, about the bullying that they've done.
To promote a culture of compassion in schools, thousands of students will gather Aug. 17 in Colorado Springs, supported by peers, parents, educators, advocates and musicians. Multi-platinum selling artist Vertical Horizon will headline District 49's Stand Up. Speak Out. anti-bullying concert, preceded by performances from The BottomLine, Brian Jarvis, Devyn Rush, Taylor Watson and Brendan James.
"When I heard about the concert, I started thinking about some of the children that I knew, some of the children that were being bullied," said parent Tammy Batchelor. "It's our job together, as a community, to raise our children."
"Every little thing you say has an impact on someone," said Lydia Thompson, a 10th grader at Falcon High School. "No one should get bullied, no one should be put through that. Treat other people how you want to be treated."
"Sometimes bullies bully because they've been bullied before," said 10th grader Anthony Wentz. "And, when they've been hurt, they feel like the only way that they can get rid of it is if they do it to someone else. … Kids just like think they're joking around with other kids, but it really is hurting them inside. And they want it to stop."
"The people we have here and now, in our lives, they're all we have right now," said 11th grader Shane Borah. "Why would you want to push those people away, and not have them there to support you, and be there with you?"
"Bullying is a problem that hasn't been addressed properly, I think, in the last few years," said Russell. "We need to come together as a community, and that's the only way we're going to be able to stop it. It's not good enough for just parents to talk about it. It's not good enough for just teachers to talk about it. We all have to work together."
"This program that we're going to have is not only going to help the victims of bullying but it's also going to help the people who have the potential to bully, when they realize their words stick with people for a long time,” said Russell.
“Words do hurt, so this event is going to address those issues and talk about the effects of bullying, not only for the victims but for the people perpetrating the bullying, also. And I think that's very important. In order to stop bullying, we have to make them feel the impact of their words."
"I think bullying is one of the weakest things anyone could do to another person," said Matt Scannell of Vertical Horizon. "If you are a strong person, then you should stand proud and tall in who you are and what you are. And you should feel comfortable enough to let other people have other opinions. So, enough with this bullying nonsense. … Come see the amazing show, featuring Dono, Ron, Jeff and me, Vertical Horizon and you. And we're going to stop bullying."
Families may reserve their preferred stadium seats today at the Security Service Field online box office: http://tinyurl.com/D49StandUpSpeakOut. For more information, visit the D49.org concert page: http://d49.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=290981.
"I've talked with plenty of adults who used to be bullies themselves, and they told me that if they could take those words back, if they could take the way they treated those people back, they would,” said Russell. “And they still feel bad, years later, about the bullying that they've done.
To promote a culture of compassion in schools, thousands of students will gather Aug. 17 in Colorado Springs, supported by peers, parents, educators, advocates and musicians. Multi-platinum selling artist Vertical Horizon will headline District 49's Stand Up. Speak Out. anti-bullying concert, preceded by performances from The BottomLine, Brian Jarvis, Devyn Rush, Taylor Watson and Brendan James.
"When I heard about the concert, I started thinking about some of the children that I knew, some of the children that were being bullied," said parent Tammy Batchelor. "It's our job together, as a community, to raise our children."
"Every little thing you say has an impact on someone," said Lydia Thompson, a 10th grader at Falcon High School. "No one should get bullied, no one should be put through that. Treat other people how you want to be treated."
"Sometimes bullies bully because they've been bullied before," said 10th grader Anthony Wentz. "And, when they've been hurt, they feel like the only way that they can get rid of it is if they do it to someone else. … Kids just like think they're joking around with other kids, but it really is hurting them inside. And they want it to stop."
"The people we have here and now, in our lives, they're all we have right now," said 11th grader Shane Borah. "Why would you want to push those people away, and not have them there to support you, and be there with you?"
"Bullying is a problem that hasn't been addressed properly, I think, in the last few years," said Russell. "We need to come together as a community, and that's the only way we're going to be able to stop it. It's not good enough for just parents to talk about it. It's not good enough for just teachers to talk about it. We all have to work together."
"This program that we're going to have is not only going to help the victims of bullying but it's also going to help the people who have the potential to bully, when they realize their words stick with people for a long time,” said Russell.
“Words do hurt, so this event is going to address those issues and talk about the effects of bullying, not only for the victims but for the people perpetrating the bullying, also. And I think that's very important. In order to stop bullying, we have to make them feel the impact of their words."
"I think bullying is one of the weakest things anyone could do to another person," said Matt Scannell of Vertical Horizon. "If you are a strong person, then you should stand proud and tall in who you are and what you are. And you should feel comfortable enough to let other people have other opinions. So, enough with this bullying nonsense. … Come see the amazing show, featuring Dono, Ron, Jeff and me, Vertical Horizon and you. And we're going to stop bullying."
Families may reserve their preferred stadium seats today at the Security Service Field online box office: http://tinyurl.com/D49StandUpSpeakOut. For more information, visit the D49.org concert page: http://d49.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=290981.