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WWE Wrestlers Bring Anti-Bullying Message to Orlando School


February 20, 2014 | WMFE, Orlando - Students at Lockhart Middle School got a visit from national wrestling stars Thursday, who discussed what to do about bullying.

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Students at Lockhart Middle School listen as their principal, Allison Kirby, introduces the WWE wrestlers of the STAR Program on Thursday Morning. Photo: Carmel Delshad | WMFE

Three WWE wrestlers stood on a stage in the gymnasium at Lockhart Middle School to spread the message against bullying. STAR stands for Show Tolerance and Respect.

Statistics show that nearly 1 in 4 students have been bullied—and most bullying happens in middle school.

Lockhart Principal Allison Kirby says about half of her students are cyberbullied—which is a type of bulling that happens online, like on Facebook, Twitter, or on messaging applications.

“That’s why we don’t allow cell phones during the day, but it will happen at night and they come and they bring it to the schools,” Kirby says.

Wrestlers travel around the world with the WWE Be a STAR program to educate students on how to stop bullying before it reaches a critical point.

 “We’re really trying to educate students about social media, and I think if we can get that under control, then that will help here in the school,” says Kirby.

Bullying has been garnering national attention in recent months. Last year, A 12-year-old girl in Lakeland jumped to her death from a tower at an abandoned concrete plant after being bullied online. Her death has resulted in proposed anti-bullying legislation during this year’s session.

 

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