Author Speaks to Students About Bullying
As a boy, Michael Korenblit remembers asking his parents why they had letters and numbers tattooed on their wrists. His mother explained that they were survivors of the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. Korenblit used his parents’ experiences as a stepping stone to talk about bullying with students at White Oak Middle School Monday, September 14. He is the president and co-founder of the Respect Diversity Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that’s mission is to teach tolerance and respect for all people.
Korenblit told the students, “The Holocaust didn’t begin with the murders of an estimated 11 million people; it began with bullying.” A long list of tragedies in America unfolded on an overhead projector screen during the 90 minute presentation in the school’s cafetorium. One of those events was the shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado in April 1999. Shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were considered social outcasts by their peers and had been bullied.
Nearly 30 percent or more than 5.7 million students in the United States are estimated to be involved in bullying, either as the bully, the target, or both. Bullying includes a wide variety of behaviors which can involve direct attacks, either physical or verbal, or more subtle attacks, such as spreading rumors or encouraging others to reject or exclude someone. “I was the girl in school with no friends,” said White Oak Middle School counselor Angie Brinkmeyer. “That’s why I became a counselor and feel so strongly about bringing a message to students about acceptance and tolerance.”
Korenblit said his message doesn’t stop with being aware, or being informed about the problem. He quoted the Dalai Lama, “It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act.” Korenblit told the students they have choices. “Each one of you knows what the right choice is.”
He then showed the group an educational music video which features a boy on a basketball court who rallies his friends after some older kids push him around and single him out. Those friends don’t bully the bully; they instead reach out to him, in a united front. Students applauded and cheered after the video ended.
White Oak Middle School’s guest speaker presentation was part of an initiative to become a No Place for Hate® campus.
Korenblit also spoke to Keefer Crossing Middle School and the 6th Grade Campus.
