4-H brings message against cyber bullying

Local members of 4-H brought an important presentation to the fourth grade classes at Hotchkiss K-8 School. Tory Welt had heard about training on "Cyber Bullying" at the 4-H Leadership Development Conference in Denver.

Welt, District 10 Director, was joined by three other members of 4-H — Tyler Simpson, MacKenzie Katzdorn and Hailey Lofley — in giving the presentation on Friday, April 6.

Kids are being bullied even at the elementary school level. "There are quite a few students and kids that aren't even in school who are getting bullied. You can really see it," Welt said before the class presentation.

Peer pressure leads to others joining in the bullying of kids who are new to the school or younger and kids who are a little bit different in the way they act or the clothes they wear.

The goal of the presentation was to show that students should not participate in bullying and what to do if they are bullied.

Cyber bullying can lead to violence, verbal abuse or suicide.

Welt suggests parents need to monitor what their kids are doing on-line.

Anyone who is being bullied online or elsewhere should find an adult to talk to.

If someone learns of cyber bullying taking place, they need to take action and report the incident to an adult, principal, teacher or parent.

Heidi Simpson, Tyler's mom, was the one who encouraged principal Carrie Coats to bring the information to the Hotchkiss K-8 students.

The students watched two videos about separate incidents where cyber bullying led a girl and a boy to commit suicide.

The message to the fourth graders was to "be proud of who your are" and "treat others as you would want to be treated."

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