Woodland Middle School Raises Bullying Awareness

Woodland Middle School in the East Meadow School District recently hosted Ryan’s Story, an anti-bullying program based on Ryan Halligan, a 13-year-old middle school student from Vermont who committed suicide on Oct. 7, 2003 because of bullying and cyberbullying.

At the assembly at Woodland, Ryan’s father John Halligan spoke with eighth-grade students about his son’s life and the humiliation he endured by peers at school and on the Internet, as well as the devastating impact that his son’s suicide has had on his family and the importance and power of forgiveness.

John Halligan, a vocal supporter for more education and prevention of bullying, cyberbullying and teen suicide across and outside of the U.S., spearheaded the Vermont Bully Prevention bill, which was signed into law in 2004. He also led the passage of the law pertaining to mandatory suicide prevention education in public schools in 2006.

The assembly is an example of the district’s commitment to supporting the social and emotional learning and development of all K-12 students in an effort to make schools safe and foster a caring climate while enhancing motivation and high achievement.

Source: anita-pickup.blogspot.com