Perhaps one of the most important lessons Plant City High students learned last week didn’t take place in the classroom.
The school’s 2,200 students participated in a presentation about cyberbullying Sept. 3. Led by Rita Peters, chief of the Hillsborough state attorney’s sex crimes division, this year’s presentation was much larger than the one Peters hosted last year at Tomlin Middle School.
Peters began by telling the students about a girl who was from a different country. She ate different food. Not the usual PB&J sandwiches the other kids would eat. She was bullied.
Peters herself is from an Italian background. She lived in Canada after her family moved from Italy. She didn’t speak English, until she moved to the United States. Could this girl be her?
“I was tormented,” Peters said, revealing herself as the victim. “It felt like torture. Finally, I found my voice and didn’t let the bullies bully me anymore.”
The students were in awe. They stood up in applause.
“I didn’t share for the applause, but that bullying happens to people — people they might know,” Peters said.
Peters was invited to speak about cyberbullying after PTSA President Yvonne Fry and Student Awareness Program Chair Nicole Adams heard her speak last year at Tomlin Middle School. They started planning the seminar even before the school year started.
“We’re trying to find things that are relevant to students — what could impact their lives,” Adams said. “With as much students that are on social media, it’s really important to them. It’s important to know what bullying is and how it impacts them.
“I can still hear the name-calling,” she said. “Looking back, I realized I believed my bullies, I believed all the things they called me.”
Peters was excited to be back in Plant City to share her knowledge on the subject of cyberbullying.
“I wish more schools would take a proactive approach through me or there’s a slew of parents of kids who have been bullied,” Peters said.
In addition to talking about her own experience, Peters shared some recent examples of how cyberbullying can spin out of control. One of her examples was the recent suicide of 12-year-old Rebecca Sewick, of Lakeland. As many as 15 girls bullied her, even after she had transferred schools.
“The best part was she made it real,” Adams said. “We heard lots of real stories.”
Peters talked about how to recognize signs of cyberbullying, sexting and the consequences of cyberbullying. Legally, investigators are now looking to beef up the law in regards to cyberbullying. They also will look at individual cases and see how they can relate to criminal statures like stalking.
“Typically, they don’t understand what the consequences can be,” Adams said.
Adams said they would love to invite Peters back next year.
“If I communicate to one child, then the day is successful,” Peters said. “Whether they are the bully or they speak up about what’s going on.”