Letter to the Editor

SEMO Bully Project members say 'Thank you'

Monday, July 16, 2012

To the Editor,

With bullying being such a big problem for many of the youth in our schools, the SEMO Bully Project worked to bring the movie 'Bully' to Poplar Bluff. The movie is a documentary about bullying across America and the emotional affects it can have on the youth who experience it.

The Project team worked together to raise over $8000.00, through donations from churches, businesses, individuals and citizen groups, to allow 2000 people, mainly youth from Poplar Bluff & Naylor Schools along with Mingo Job Corp, to view the movie free of charge. The Poplar Bluff AMC Theaters provided discounted tickets and free popcorn to everyone who attended the five scheduled showings.

This SEMO Bully Project plans to continue their efforts in the future with more fundraising and presentations to the local schools as well as a visit from Ty Smalley's father, Kirk Smalley, from the movie 'Bully'. Ty Smalley was 11 years old when he committed suicide after being relentlessly bullied by his peers. Mr. Smalley hopes to be in SE Missouri in January of 2013 to continue to spread the word and promote Stand for the Silent, a non for profit bullying program that encourages youth to stand up and not allow bullies to victimize other children.

The Poplar Bluff 2011-2012 freshman class started raising money for the Poplar Bluff Stand for the Silent chapter right after they viewed the movie. They held an event where they traced their feet, with sidewalk chalk, on the sidewalks of the high school, as a symbol of how they plan to stand for the silent in their school, and collected change donations from each class member.

The SEMO Bully Project members would like to thank all of the parents, students, officials & staff from Poplar Bluff & Naylor Schools as well as Mingo Job Corp, for keeping an open mind, and the community partners who donated funds to help make it all happen.

The SEMO Bully

Project Committee