Discovery students, L.A. band discuss bullying with Skype

A Los Angeles band with an anti-bullying message talked with Discovery Middle School students in a Skype session.

The band Y i Yell (Why I Yell) with brothers Demitri and Michael Lerios and lead singer Gaby Symons is serving as the 2012 “School Advocates” with the national campaign, “STOMP Out Bullying”.

“Y i Yell will visit schools and interact with kids, teachers and parents,” Discovery instructional coach Jacquelyn Flowers said. The band will perform in concert during school assemblies and “share their inspiring stories of overcoming bullying and what we can all do to stand up and YELL in our own communities.”

At Discovery this semester, Morgan McCants’ language arts classes read assignments that discussed bullying, and she scheduled the Skype session with Y i Yell. Skype(tm) software connects computer users for online conversation and viewing.

The band talked to Discovery students about their personal stories on dealing with bullying and bully prevention techniques. “The students were astonished about being able to talk to a teen band who was literally in Los Angeles,” Flowers said.

Symons shared her battle with bullies because of an undetected learning disability. “Classmates laughed at me and constantly reminded me that I couldn’t read well,” she said.

The Discovery students heard and related to similar situations that they or others have experienced, McCants said.

“As teachers, we can give limitless resources and reasons why students shouldn’t bull, but we all know students relate to a situation better from someone their own age,” McCants said.

The Skype session “allowed them to see that students, even across the United States, go through the same things they go through no matter the creed, race, gender or location,” McCants said.

“Seventh grade is full of new experiences and challenges, but it’s my job and privilege to make sure that they have a great and successful experience in school,” she said. McCants is committed to teach about social awareness and “how they can be a successful person inside and out.”

For more information, visit yiyell.com.