Libby Schools work to prevent bullying

Bullies and their behavior never made anything better.

As school districts across the country work to combat the effects of bullying - low self esteem, depression and even suicide - there are experts who are working on the problem.

Recently at Libby High School, the Seeds Leadership Group and Justin Boudreau gave an interactive presentation for a few dozen students.

It was designed to teach about values, considering the consequences of actions or words toward others and develop leaders that may help spread the message to their peers. It is also designed to help students understand the difference between rude behavior and bullying and harassment.

“What we’re hoping to do is change our culture,” Libby High School Vice Principal Jack Mehn said. “Our teachers nominated this group of students because they already exhibit important characteristics of leadership.

“The hope is they go out and spread that positive approach,” Mehn said. “We also now have operable security cameras in the school, so that should help, too.”

Local business man Matt Hill helped pay for the cameras.

For Boudreau, he talked about the differences from when he was a student to the challenges current students face today.

“Then, I was judged by my classmates, but now students are being judged by the whole world through social media, so that can be very demanding,” Boudreau said.

He talked about developing a personal compass and determining individual values.

“It may the ability to forgive, respect, your friends, people’s rights, freedom, patience or education,” Boudreau said. “It’s also good to consider what we say and what we do.

“When you don’t know what you stand for, it can lead to some bad choices.”

He also talked about blame, creating excuses and how trust can still be maintained even while mistakes are made.

“It’s not good to blame someone else for your problems. We create excuses because we’re trying to protect ourselves, but if we admit our mistakes, we can still have trust from others,” Boudreau said.

He shared a story about a drink industry company working to expand its market into South America many years ago. The slogan they used in one of the countries had a positive message while in other countries, it said the beverage, “tasted like urine.”

“The executive expected to be fired and he wrote his resignation letter,” Boudreau explained. “The letter also didn’t place on the executive’s team and he took the blame for the mistake.

“When the man’s superior saw the letter, they agreed to keep the man. So that’s what can happen when you own up to your mistakes.”

The presentation was sponsored by Lincoln County United for Youth, Western Montana Mental Health Center and Spring Up Communities.