Thousands of kids take part in anti-bullying rally
Posted December 14, 2011 5:40 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Thousands of Toronto school children packed Ricoh Coliseum Wednesday, pledging to do their part to help put a stop to bullying.
“I’ve been cornered by some kids and they always punch me…I guess they hate me or something,” said 10-year-old Noah.
“They called me fat and ugly,” said student Andre.
Students were encouraged to take the day’s pledge, by promising “I will make it better.”
“The hope is these kids are going to go back to their schools, back to their communities and make a difference,” said Toronto District School Board Director of Education Chris Spence.
“I think as a school board we’re trying to demonstrate how serious this issue is. So we’ve brought together 9,000 students, staff and trustees to really signal to our community that this is an issue that is very serious, and we’re going to deal with it head on.”
It seems that many of the students are already taking the motto to heart.
“Don’t bully people and treat people with respect,” said Andre.
Wednesday’s event comes just weeks after the McGuinty government proposed an anti-bullying law that would, if passed, allow Ontario schools to permanently expel students for discriminating and taunting others.
And just last month, the Etobicoke School of the Arts made headlines when pop superstar Lady Gaga delivered a personal message of support to students during an assembly against bullying.
