Brownwood: Bang Bang You're Dead & Bullying

“From a student’s perspective”

“ The year is 2005, not 1976, We find ourselves in a time with more hatred and crime. Is the school prepared
for this ? ” ..............
“ Couldn’t you help give us a healthy, safe and enjoyable learning enviroment ? ” ...............
Kami Powell - Sophmore at Brownwood High

Brownwood Bulletin
Letter to the Editor
Page 4a Wed. February 2, 2005
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“ Perhaps more moving than Dr. Barkley's figures was the first-hand account of Sajid Sanchez. The Brownwood High School graduate described instances of harassment and detailed one account of sexual assault he suffered while at school.

Fighting back tears, he explained what it was like growing up in the town of 19,000, located 130 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

"I tried to be as straight as possible," Sanchez said. "I tried to be someone I didn't want to be. Often by mid-day I was depressed, so down that I wanted to go home."

According to the student, who turned 20 on Wednesday, he is saddened when he thinks about the friends he had who couldn't cope and dropped out ofschool. Sanchez said that with a statewide program as part of every high school, gays and lesbians would have a better chance at graduating.

Supporting Sanchez's argument was John Selig, who concluded the press conference by suggesting that more people should become active in the advancement of safety at their alma maters. A contributor to the book, Telling Tales Out of School, Selig recommended that all gays and lesbians send age-appropriate literature to their home schools.

By doing so, Selig said, students could learn about others who have survived in the face of harassment. This, he added, would be one of the best ways to challenge schools to provide a safe environments for all students. ”
source: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/Alerts/States/Texas/training.html
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The Play - Bang Bang You're Dead.

In September 2002, the producers of Showtime announced the production of a made-for-television movie based on the play, Bang Bang You*re Dead. The movie added a new and powerful dimension to the play by establishing a connection between bullying and violent school attacks. ROP, in conjunction with Showtime, sponsored a screening of the movie for school, law enforcement, social services, and elected officials. The movie aired five times before a national TV audience estimated at 4.2 million.


A Play by William Mastrosimone

"Bang Bang You're Dead" is a resource for dealing with a broken world that's violent, unhealthy, unfair, and beyond the power of anyone to fix except today's generation.

The play is a free gift for students to perform in schools, garages, street corners, parks, houses of worship -- anyplace there can be communication and discovery about how we've made the world's violence our own. And how we can change it.

It's about a theater of life.

The play requires a minimum of 11 actors, little in the way of production values, and runs 40 minutes. You can download the play and perform it for FREE by following the license agreement and instructions on the DOWNLOADS page. When you schedule a performance, please add it to the PERFORMANCE CALENDAR.

William Mastrosimone Celeste Anlauf Adam Leipzig Greg Ptacek

source: http://www.bangbangyouredead.com/


M I S S I O N   S T A T E M E N T
We will unite the nation in an effort to prevent school violence by acting as a resource for communication, education, planning and action.

In the wake of violent tragedies across our country, what did you feel? Grief, Disbelief, Helplessness. These feelings unite our nation. But we owe our children, our friends and our communities more than our communal sorrow. We owe them their futures. This is the promise behind the Ribbon of Promise National Campaign to Prevent School Violence: that a nation united through grief, through the power of that very unity, achieve a victory over violence. It is a promise that requires much thought, and action, to be fulfilled.

WE BELIEVE: Together, we can prevent school violence.

WE WILL:
Overcome Denial by admitting:
"It can happen anywhere."
Overcome Confusion by affirming:
"We will identify the underlying problems."
Overcome Apathy by declaring:
"We will do something to help."
Overcome Fear by promising:
"We will have the courage to act."
Overcome School Violence by agreeing:
"Together, we will prevent it."

source: http://www.ribbonofpromise.org/



MAVIA news
The Showtime Original Picture
"Bang Bang You're Dead"

Mothers Against Violence In America (MAVIA) appreciates the opportunity to provide input about the Showtime Original Picture "Bang Bang You're Dead" and we are glad that one of our board members, Dr. William Pollack, will be participating on the important panel discussion airing after the film.
MAVIA believes that the most important points for youth violence prevention are awareness and increased dialog between young people and adults about violence. It is critical that young people see the adult in their lives as someone they can trust and go to for help when they are scared and facing life-threatening situations.
MAVIA is proud to have endorsed Broadway playwright William Mastrosimone's original one-act play "Bang Bang You're Dead" (www.bangbangyouredead.com), which inspired the Showtime Original Picture. The controversial but honest play has been produced by thousands of young people in schools and community settings nationwide. MAVIA encourages adults to review our discussion guide, which will help young people build a greater sense of context.
It is also very important that parents are aware of the developmental level of their children and do not allow elementary children to view this program due to the level of violence that is depicted. Secondary students who view the program are encouraged to do so with their parents so that the important dialog can take place following the program.
MAVIA recognizes the tremendous strides made in school safety in recent years and that schools are one of the safest places that students can go. We compliment schools for their incredible teamwork between administrators, teacher support personnel and police. Many of the near misses for school violence have been because of the teamwork among these groups. MAVIA also believes that school safety is an "inside job" that requires a commitment from students first, and then the faculty. There are many excellent programs that get students more involved in school safety such as our own program, Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE). MAVIA hopes that the discussion segment following the program will highlight how students themselves can make schools safer.
Nevertheless MAVIA realizes that bullying in the schools is a very serious problem that greatly interferes with a school attendance, a positive self-concept and school success for many students. MAVIA also recognizes that a U.S. Secret Service study found that approximately two-thirds of school shooters were the victims of bullying and were suicidal. It is our hope that productions such as this one will help schools and parents to focus more on prevention efforts.
MAVIA has worked closely with the Washington State Attorney General's office to pass important youth violence prevention legislation. Our organization supports standard models and policies defining bullying and harassment in all schools. Fifteen states have passed such legislation, and MAVIA encourages the remaining 35 states to join the effort. For a copy of sample legislation or any other information about bullying prevention, please contact us.
MAVIA knows that students, teachers and parents will have many questions after viewing the Showtime Original Picture "Bang Bang You're Dead". We have anticipated some of those questions and have tried to provide answers. MAVIA also recognizes that following the events of September 11th, much of the national attention has understandably focused on the threat of terrorism and the ongoing war. At MAVIA, we know however that children in America also have experienced much stress as a result of the tragic events. We believe it is important that all adults try to set aside some of their personal worries and concerns in an effort to focus on children and their needs. Violence by children and against children has unfortunately continued since 9/11/01.


source: http://www.mavia.org/bangrecs.htm