The West Virginia Department of Education is taking on bullying in the state with a new bullying prevention campaign called It Does Matter.
“This campaign is about saying to parents, teachers, students and the broader community we need your help and we need you to go to the website we created and look at what you can do as a parent, as a student to help us stop bullying,” said state School Superintendent Jorea Marple.
Marple unveiled the campaign and the It Does Matter website (www.itdoesmatterwv.com) Thursday during a school assembly at Lewis County High School, where several anti-bullying efforts have already been implemented.
Marple said bullying is not school base created but rather comes from today’s society and that not only the schools need to address the issue, but the whole community as well.
This statewide program seeks to create an open atmosphere about bullying. All members of the community, not just teachers and students must be aware of bullying and how it affects each person said Marple.
“Every school in the state is working hard on this issue but we really want to send a message that it’s really more than what we do in schools,” said Marple. “We have to reach out and as a society begin to model and expect those behaviors that treat each other in a good, kind, and great way.”
Parents, students, and teachers are encouraged to visit the website itdoesmatterwv.com to have their questions answered regarding bullying and to learn how they can personally put a stop to bullying.