Bully Bystanders: You Can Make a Difference

 Awards

Bronze Telly Award

CINE: Golden Eagle Award

 Reviews 

Starred Review  It is difficult for students to stand up to someone who is bullying a classmate, but inaction often makes things worse. This program follows Jason, an older teen, whose rule of survival in high school is like most students, “MYOB” (mind your own business). Over time, on the bus ride to school, in the classroom, in the library, and in the cafeteria, Jason watches as a classmate is verbally harassed, excluded, and the target of cyberbullying. When he hears that she has attempted suicide—or bullycide—he imagines how this could have been prevented if he had stepped in. This dramatization of the same scenarios, replayed, is effective and constructive as Jason’s calm but assertive interjections diffuse the situations and cause the tormenters to back off. Graphics offer factual information and interviews with real teens reveal the trauma of being a victim, the relief of the spectator who isn’t the target, and the acknowledgement that bystanders want to intervene, but usually don’t. Poignant photos of Carl Walker Hoover, who committed suicide at age 11, are shown as his sister explains that she had no idea that he had been being bullied. The strength of the program is the honest testimony of the diverse group of teens, the simple strategies for intervening, and a focus on the commonly ignored element in bullying—the bystander. This realistic, well-produced film is a must-see for high school students.

- Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia Jr. Sr. High School, NY 

School Library Journal 

Recommended This DVD opens with scenarios based on real life incidents where bystanders stand up and change the outcome of a situation. There are scenarios of teens who stand up and discuss how intervening can make a difference. Experts explain the difference between being proactive and being in a dangerous situation. Making school a safe and respectful environment is the responsibility of everyone. The teacher’s resource book is thorough and includes reproducible pages as well as stimuli for class discussions and self checklists. In addition, it is chock-full of activities and fact sheets to reiterate the video’s message, and is a valuable tool for teachers using this program. Activities include such items as rating yourself with a pre/post test, checklists, “what would you do if” scenarios, a bullying journal, breaking the bullying cycle, and an action plan against bullying.

- Judith M Garner, Media Speicialist, Rock Hill (South Carolina) High School 

Library Media Connection