Not Your Average Schoolyard Bully

Posted: 12/20/2012

Chase Serota and Dylan Zeiff are seventh grade students at Jericho Middle School in Jericho, New York. They first began to produce this documentary in their Project History class for the annual National History Day Competition. The documentary, titled "Not Your Average School Yard Bully: Reforming How Schools React to the Bullying Epidemic" tracks the changes in school responses to incidences of bullying following the tragedy at Columbine High School in 1999.  The boys learned about the many changes in perceptions about bullying, school rules, and local and national legislation put in place to protect students from being bullied.

Although Chase and Dylan initially set out to document historical changes and reforms, after many months of researching and creating their documentary, a spark ignited within them.  They were deeply affected by what they learned, including the devastating, negative impact of bullying on kids throughout the United States. Chase and Dylan developed a passion for promoting a powerful bullying prevention message. They strongly believe that students, who come to school each day to learn, should not have to be afraid of taunting, teasing, discrimination, or harassment.

Chase and Dylan have come to realize that every person can make a difference by taking a stand against bullying and reaching out to others who have been bullied. They hope to make a difference by sharing this documentary.

The documentary is available on YouTube at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awrqnyy5i_I&feature=my_liked_videos&list=LLSLVQOtjGSn2-wqaQAzB_RA

 

By: Chase Serota and Dylan Zeiff