Shoving, teasing and name-calling are all too often a daily
occurrence in schools across the country where cliques thrive
and anyone who might be “different” has a hard row to hoe. And,
with the growth of technology, bullying has expanded its reach,
finding its way out of the schoolyard and into the back pockets
of students who have no way to escape their tormentors. Cell
phones and social media have enabled bullying to evolve from
mere (albeit still hurtful) verbal and physical harassment to
pervasive cyber-bullying attacks through Facebook, emails and
text messages. It’s a pervasive problem and the Blaine school
district is looking for answers. To help curb bullying, they’ve
asked Scott Backovich, an international motivational speaker
whose talks are geared toward youth, to speak to students about
bullying, respect and the effects of being what he calls “a
catalyst.” Backovich will speak to students at both Blaine
Middle School and Blaine High School during a special day
organized by the district on January