Schools

Point Pleasant Borough High School Students Show Middle Schoolers Name-Calling Not Cool

High school students perform skits at middle school

Point Pleasant Borough High School students recently helped Memorial Middle School students learn, through exercises, skits and even a rap, how to better prevent and cope with name-calling and bullying.

About 50 high school students, from the acting and Student Ambassador programs, conducted the skits at the middle school last week in recognition of National No Name-Calling Week.

Although technically a week late (due to a snow day), the school joined thousands of schools across the country to host activities in recognition of the nationwide movement aimed at raising awareness about name-calling and bullying in schools.

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The presentations marked the second year that Rebecca Muraglia, borough high school Dramatic Arts teacher, and her Acting I, II and III students and the high school’s Student Ambassadors, performed an assembly for the middle school students to illustrate various name-calling and bullying scenarios.

“By many accounts, middle school represents a time when bullying tends to escalate,” Muraglia said. “And often, trying to ‘fit in’ can come at the expense of others.”

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Muraglia told the audience that what they were about to hear would hopefully empower them to be better people.

Beginning with an exercise called “Stepping on the Line,” students were asked to form a circle along the perimeter of the gymnasium.

Muraglia then read a series of statements about common experiences of middle school students.

The students were to stay on the line if the statement applied to them or step off if it did not.

By stepping on or off the line, students revealed personal information such as if their parents were divorced, if they have ever been hurt by a friend, if they’ve ever been teased for their looks, race or clothing, if they’ve ever felt left out or have felt peer pressure to do something they know is wrong.

One particular statement underscored the importance of this lesson when more than half of the students indicated that middle school is socially a difficult place.

“Bullying and name-calling inflicts wounds that can last a lifetime,” said  Muraglia.

“Young people are often quick to say things without considering the impact of their words," Muraglia continued. "Many slang words and words said  under the guise of ‘just kidding’ can be particularly offensive to certain individuals.” 

Following “Stepping on the Line,” Muraglia invited several middle school volunteers to talk into the microphone about their personal struggles in middle school.

“I’ve been bullied because I have scoliosis,” said sixth-grader Tyler Leyda. “It makes me angry. No one is perfect.”

Scoliosis is curvature of the spine.

Fellow sixth grade student Olivia Youngman-Mihovch shared her experience as a witness to bullying.

“I’ve seen a lot of bullying,” she said. “People get hurt. But I think we can stop it.”

And the administration agrees.

“The only way to eradicate name-calling and bullying is to continue to raise awareness and build on the district’s character education and anti-bullying initiatives,” said Director of Curriculum & Instruction Robert Alfonse.

 “No Name-Calling Week helps to improve the school climate by promoting a message of respect and acceptance,” said Alfonse. “The week provides a great opportunity to engage our students in discussions about the harmful effects of name calling and bullying.”

The next segment referred to the popular MTV reality series “If You Really Knew Me” and the effects stereotypical labels can have.

After proclaiming themselves “the Nice Guy,” “the Flirt,” “the Bully” and “the Drug Addict,” the students explained how their true identities are revealed only after they are stripped of their labels.

“If you really knew me, you would see we are just like you,” said the students illustrating common experiences in everyone.

 The next skit addressed teasing and bullying by offering realistic solutions through an advice column approach.

The final skit was directed at the middle school’s lunchtime quandary of tables accommodating only eight students.

Ninth grader Realyn Schnappauf performed a “Lunch Room Rap” to provide ideas on how social groups of more than eight students can get through lunch without the misery of exclusion. One of her suggestions included splitting the group to minimize isolation if a friend is left out.

Middle School Principal Gary Floyd concluded the assembly by thanking Muraglia and her students for sharing the no name-calling and anti-bullying message with their younger peers.

“This message is special because it comes from your peers,” said Floyd. “In a few short years, you will be where they are now. You can trust in the wisdom of their experiences.”

Also in attendance at the performances was Superintendent of Schools Vincent S. Smith.

“The district takes a proactive approach to ensuring that our students are exposed to a positive school climate free from harassment and bullying,” Smith said.

“Bullying and name-calling can have serious emotional consequences for victims, bystanders and even the bullies themselves," Smith said.

"Plus with the State’s new anti-bullying legislation, these actions can be subject to severe legal ramifications,” he added. “Who better to deliver this message than fellow students that have shared experiences? I truly hope that what the students learned will stay with them throughout their school years.”

To find out more about the Point Pleasant School District, visit the district website at www.pointpleasant.k12.nj.us.


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