Bullies Busted by MHS Students
Bullying is a serious concern. In some instances it has led to tragedies including beatings and even suicides. The Internet and Social Media provide an expanded medium that can intensify the impact of bullying on teens.
A group of students at MHS decided to do something about it. They formed the MHS Bully Busters with the mission of bully prevention. The team provides education to students in the community on the consequences of bullying. Through an interactive presentation, role playing different types of bullying, the program empowers students to stand up against bullying in the hopes of confronting and minimizing bullying in the schools. This group of students are the student leaders of our community, setting a new course to a bully free district.
MHS Seniors Logan Welch and Ashley Mills along with Sophomore Michelle Hegenauer appear on Manchester Review in April to describe the program. There are ten to fifteen members of the troupe. The Bully Busters visit elementary and middle schools to perform skits about bullying in order to teach kids some strategies on how to successfully deal with and confront bullies. Interviewed by host Jack Peak, they share personal stories of being bullied and of witnessing incidents of bullying.
One issue they raise is that few people have a clear idea of what the school policy is about bullying. Logan claims that if you asked a teacher or a student none of them would be able to explain the policy. That appears to be an area for schools to improve on.
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The Bully Busters are advised by Heidi Macchi, Manchester Outreach Social Worker, and Laurie Roulier, MHS Guidance Counselor. Martial Arts Instructor and life coach Joel Waldron is a consultant to the group.
It takes a community to work together and prevent bullying and Manchester High
School’s Bully Busters are doing just that.
Logan, Ashley and Michelle can be seen in April on Manchester Review, channel 15, Mondays at 9 PM. Comments and questions can be referred to manchesterreview@gmail.com
