Reports of Student Bullying Prompt Group's Offer to Place 'Bullies Are Cowards' Signs on School Lockers
For Immediate Release:
November 18, 2011
Contact:
Kristin Richards 202-483-7382
Saint John, Ind. -- This morning, PETA sent a letter to Robert McDermott, principal of Lake Central High School, offering to help the school combat the student harassment and bullying that has sent shockwaves across the state. In the letter, the group shows the well-established link between violence against animals and anti-social acts against human beings and asks to place ads on the students' lockers that read, "Abuse: Report It if You See It," and urge students to report animal abuse to school and municipal authorities. PETA is also encouraging the school to create an anti-bullying lecture series—in which PETA will gladly participate. The series will explain the link between violence toward animals and violence toward humans.
"Studies show that kids who abuse and bully animals often go on to hurt human beings, so it's vitally important to stop this violence where it starts," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "By urging compassion for all living beings, Lake Central High School can help promote a safe environment for all its students."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
PETA's letter to Lake Central High School Principal Robert McDermott follows.
November 18, 2011
Robert
McDermott
Principal
Lake
Central High School
Dear Principal McDermott,
I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our thousands of supporters in Indiana with a little suggestion that could help prevent future bullying at Lake Central High School. As a mother, I understand that most kids relate to and care about their dogs and cats at home, so I would like to suggest that you place PETA's "Abuse: Report It if You See It," public service ad on your school's lockers. It would put bullying in perspective in a way that students can easily understand.
Studies by the FBI, psychiatrists, and sociologists have amply demonstrated that children who abuse animals are more likely to bully classmates and grow up to be violent adults. The horrific peer-to-peer violence that has rocked communities across the U.S. in recent years has, in many cases, stemmed from perpetrators who have engaged in acts of cruelty to animals. As just one example among many, Columbine students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold spoke of mutilating animals before shooting and killing 12 classmates and then turning the guns on themselves.
With Lake Central High School's own bullying tragedy fresh in everyone's mind, I hope you will put PETA's "Abuse: Report It if You See It" locker ad to good use. We also suggest holding an anti-bullying lecture series, in which students and the community at large can come together to discuss ways to develop empathy for all others, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or species. If you'd like, PETA would be more than happy to send a speaker to address students about the importance of recognizing and reporting animal abuse and how it ties in to school violence. Finally, please take a look at TeachKind.org—the Just Choices Curriculum Kit is designed to help students learn how their everyday choices affect others in society and to inspire them to take on issues with passionate civic engagement. We would be happy to send you Just Choices materials.
Please contact me to discuss this suggestion. Thank you for your consideration, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Tracy
Reiman
Executive
Vice President