Documentary highlights school bullying

Documentary highlights school bullying

Debra Chasnoff is seen in this March 7, 2007 photo.

By John Sharify

In the gripping documentary "Let's Get Real," you'll hear from those bullied, and the bullies themselves.

"I used to bully on people, push them, knock them down," says one teen. Why would someone bully someone else? Academy Award winning filmmaker Debra Chasnoff looks into that question in the documentary she produced and directed.

Getting back to the question 'Why?' Maybe, because they can. But Chasnoff hopes that if kids can see themselves in the documentary, and see the impact of what they do, maybe then, they'll stop.

"The student who comes in mind for me is the boy who calls other kids a 'fag'. And I asked him "Why do you do that?" And he said 'I think it's because it's what my stepfather calls me.' "

Educators call bullying an epidemic. One estimate is that 160,000 children miss school every day because of fears they'll be bullied.

Tonight, there will be a screening of Let's Get Real at the Experience Music Project. There will be a discussion with parents, students and teachers afterwards.

The question that fascinates Chaznoff is what can we do about bullying? She says we have to talk about it first. In school, at home. And keep the discussion going.

For more information about the documentary 'Let's Get Real', you can go to www.respectforall.org
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