BEMIDJI -The Governor's Task Force Prevention of School Bullying
met with Bemidji students, parents and educators Wednesday
evening kicking off a series of sessions to help redefine the
state's anti-bullying statute. "The Governor has organized a
task force of citizens from around the state to make
recommendations to the Governor and to the Legislature in
regards that might be put forth that would direct all the school
districts in the state as to how they should address bullying,"
said Nancy Riestenberg, School Climate Specialist at the
Department of Education. Riestenberg joined members of the task
force to speak with students from Bemidji High School and
students from Schoolcraft to discuss their concerns about
bullying and ways in which they think it could be prevented.
Students like Thomas Caddy and Tia Siddens, 9th graders at
Bemidji High School, bullying is present at the school and it is
seen both physically and verbally. "Words hurt more than fists
in a lot of situations because if the physical wound