QUINCY, ILL. -- In the past few months, teen suicides caused by bullying have been highlighted all over national news. Bullying also is an issue in the Tri-States.
Teachers, administrators, and school staff met in Quincy Thursday to try to break the code of bullying.
"If you focus on the bully, you might reach 10-15%, the victim 10-15%. If you focus on the bystander, you're looking at 80% of your population," said Patti Faughn.
This workshop taught that even one bystander can play a huge role in stopping bullying.
"Even the power of one, one person becoming active and helping out that victim, can make all the difference in the world. One bystander standing up and taking an active role, that can break the code of bullying," said Debbie Neiderhauser.
That one person could be a student, a teacher, even an administrator.
"I don't think it's as strong as it is in some of the national areas where they've talked about it but it is something that our kids are confronted with and so that's why we wanted to empower our staff, so they can do a better job," said Regional Superintendent of Schools Debbie Niederhauser.
"It's hard to justify that we can say that it's just a harmless game that kids do. It's not," said Patti Faughn with the University of Illinois Extension office.
Bullying in one form or another has been around a long time, so it will take work to stop it. That's why the University of Illinois Extension service plans follow-up workshops to help schools help students avoid bullying.
If you're interested in holding a workshop you can contact the Regional Office of Education at (217) 277-2080.
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