Middle school is not
supposed to be a painful time in a student's life, but that's been life everyday
for Makayla Anderson.
She
said she's ready to take a stand, and stand up for all kids who are being
bullied.
"If I have to go
through this, then no one else should," said Makayla.
She is like any other
8th grader. She loves to hang out with
her friends and family, but it's something else that Makayla has in common with
other kids that has her holding a sign outside of Elkview Middle School.
Amanda Anderson is
Makayla's mom. She said, "I feel
like we need to stand up and we need to show them that we have a voice as well
as them and we will stand with them no matter what happens."
Anderson says the problem is
that the school's anti-bullying policy is not being enforced. Her daughter
Makayla says just going to school is a painful experience and has been for two
long years.
"It's hard just
waking up every morning and thinking what's going to come next," said
Makayla.
Tonya Barnett-Huff works
for a non-profit organization called Bully Free West Virginia. She says, since
November 12th, her organization has had six calls about different cases of
bullying at Elkview Middle School.
Barnett Huff said, "A
lot of times people aren't reporting. So
to get that many calls, especially in that short amount of time, that is
high. Usually we get one a month from
one general area. To get that many from
one particular school, that tells us there are some major issues,"
By the end of the rally,
these kids, along with Makayla, wanted their message for bullies and their
victims to be heard loud and clear.
West Virginia has a Safe School's Help line. It's a 24 hour, toll free number assigned for
all of the mountain state.
When you call this
number, you're speaking to an actual person who will keep your identity
confidential.
You can call to report
violence, threats, weapons in schools, or sexual harassment. Anyone is welcome to call, it's not just
limited to students.
That number is
1-866-723-3982, or 1-866-SAFEWVA.
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