Katie O'Malley kicks off MD anti-bullying week

S.E. Baltimore - Adults can give speeches about it.

“It is respect for others that is at the heart and soul of not bullying anyone.” State School Superintendent Nancy Grasmick says.

But when you're in elementary school those speeches get long.

So there is a lot of fidgeting going on.

Because the adults need to understand that you know something that they don't know.

The power of the Ro-Sham-Bo.

The Ro-Sham-Bo or rock paper scissors to the old folks is the standard way for conflict resolution at Lakeland Elementary/Middle School.

The school is well known for its active conflict resolution and bullying prevention.

And at a time when bullying is causing a lot of problems in schools and even in the workplace among adults knowing how to resolve issues and helping bullies learn to stop being a bully is crucial.

“We would talk with them and take both of them and they would talk about it and that would usually end it but if it goes on we’d have to go to more serious things than that, like going to an adult.” Demetrius Burton, a fifth grade member of the conflict resolution team says.

Maryland's first lady Katie O'Malley has taken up the cause of bullying and will be speaking around the state and highlighting programs aimed to stop it.

Like the one at Lakeland.

“We’ve all seen sadly across the nation a number of kids who have taken their own lives as a result of being tormented and harassed and bullied for what ever reason especially in middle school those kids are definitely going through a lot of pain and it’s tme we all put a stop to it.” Katie O’Malley says.

The anti bullying campaign week doesn’t end at the end of the week.

The conflict resolution and anti-bullying initiative will go on until school lets out and will be emphasized even more next school year.