Bullying is an issue in schools everywhere. 86% of kids surveyed said they’ve seen someone else being bullied, 48% said they’ve been bullied, and 42% admitted to bullying other kids at least once in a while, according to HowToStopBullying.com. Bullying in school and cyber bullying are increasingly viewed as a contributor to youth violence, including homicide and suicide.  To help recognize bullying as a problem, students involved in a Youth Performance Company production have been performing a play for different Twin Cities schools, and visited South on Wednesday.

These young actors put on a show, called MEAN, that was intended to open students’ eyes to who gets bullied, what bystanders can do to help bullying victims, and the forces that motivate students to bully. According to the play, it is our choice whether or not we will allow bullying in our school, and students have the responsibility to speak up and report bullying if they see it.

“It was inspiring and makes me wonder if bullying is happening around me and what I can do to stop it.  I know at South bullying is a problem at some extent, but not as much as at other schools. When I saw the play it was sad to see the kids get picked on and beat up,” said freshman Wyatt Lien.

“I think it was funny at some times, because they over-exaggerated how bad bullying is at schools.  I do not see bullying at South, but I know it can get bad at other schools, like in the suburbs,” said freshman Ronan Brooks.

Freshman Marie Nicholas also thought the play was exaggerated and said, “I don’t think bullying is that intense. South doesn’t have as much bullying as in middle school.” Overall, Nicholas enjoyed the play. “The actors were some excellent singers. My favorite part was when she told the girl she would give her a dollar to call herself ugly. I thought it was silly.”