Avalon Elementary Targets Bullying

AVALON – “From this day forward, I promise to respect those around me as well as respect myself.” “I am somebody and I can make a difference.”
These are the opening words to the “Stand for the Silent” pledge that Avalon Elementary School students listened to during a presentation on March 11. The issue of bullying among children that sometimes leads to suicide was the focus of the program organized by school guidance counselor Alanna Smallwood.
Smallwood, a parent of two small children, related that she first became involved with the program when she viewed a documentary film called “Bully” at the school library. This film introduced her to the story of 11-year-old Ty Smalley from Oklahoma.
The Stand for the Silent website states that the organization “was started in 2010 by a group of students from the Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City Upward Bound Chapter after they heard the story of Kirk and Laura Smalley’s son, Ty Field-Smalley. At 11 years-old, Ty took his own life after being suspended from school for retaliating against a bully that had been bullying him for over two years.”
Smallwood further explained that her students viewed the documentary and were so moved by the story that they asked if they could invite Kirk Smalley to the school to deliver his presentation. Her superintendent readily agreed and Smalley traveled here to present the program to a mix of students and parents at the school gym. The impact was palpable, “you could hear a pin drop” said Smallwood.
Smallwood described the presentation as “a simple easel and five empty chairs with photos on each.” “Each chair represented one child who had been bullied into suicide” she said.
The program had a huge impact on students and parents. Smallwood indicated that the pledge card Smalley distributed was to be read every day by the student; a signature and date line at the bottom reinforces the commitment these students make to the principles of the organization to fight bullying. Smallwood indicated that they plan to establish a local chapter of this organization for their school community
Stand For The Silent urges schools and communities to have bake sales, car washes or any community event to help raise money and awareness.
According to its website, “We do not charge for a presentation. Any funds donated to Stand For The Silent pay for travel to a school or presentation site and the materials needed to support our program.” Ms. Smallwood confirmed that there was no cost what-so-ever to the school and she hopes that similar programs continue to spread the message of anti-bullying throughout the region.
For information, please visit www.standforthesilent.org.
To contact McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.