Everything Under The Sun: Changing A Negative Culture

Friday, June 26, 2015

Changing A Negative Culture

Some of the student participants engaged in a fun, interactive game.

If you've ever seen a bully in operation, you've probably noticed how aggressive he/she can be, even with words. Frequently associated with school settings, bullying can also be found in the workplace and online. It's something that is not only spoken, but is also expressed in physical violence, usually directed to another person, who has some sort of vulnerability, more likely a bigger heart, more compassion, that leaves the target affected inside by the attack. It is a form of violence.

Matthew Kaplan, when he was a high school junior, noticed the bullying that was directed at his younger brother Josh, who was attending middle school. It helped that Matthew knew those who were doing the bullying, so he believed that they didn't know how harmful and hurtful their behavior was. When he decided to address the issue, Matthew created THE BE THE ONE PROJECT, a positive and non-judgmental program, which would help to develop empathy and friendships between the students.

Essentially, the program eliminates bullying by developing a positive peer culture within the school. It recognizes student role models and utilizes various activities that create discussion and a shared experience to build empathy. The program focuses on students at the middle school level, which is usually when youngsters receive their first cellphones, start using social media, and get their first solo email accounts. It's a time when students also learn to text and have access to communication tools that lend anonymity to how they interact.

This program takes that knowledge and builds a new culture through an entire day of fun, interactive activities. This is where the connections between students are built, where students learn of the problem, but become part of the solution. Bridges and connections are built between students, so they become more supportive of each other, a community of positive role models.

Horizon High School volunteers at Desert Springs Prep Elementary School for presentation.

Since the program's start, it has spread beyond the original middle school. A youth board advises the group and takes part in its decisions. There are community outreach sessions, which involve the screening of the movie, Bully, followed by discussion by the attendees. This program continues to grow, with plans to spread throughout the Arizona educational system. And it was all started by one high school student who saw a problem and decided to address it.