By now, we would hope that most people have some awareness bullying in our schools and just how tragic the outcome often is. To raise awareness even more, each year in October we observe National Bullying Prevention Month. What started as a week of observance, founded in 2006 by Pacer's National Center For Bullying Prevention, the campaign has grown to occupy the entire month. Now coming up on it's eleventh year, the celebration truly it has an affect on the entire month and the entire year. And deservedly so. The scourge of bullying is preventable.

As the largest company in the country producing educational assembly programs mixing high levels of entertainment with solid educational content, Mobile Ed long ago joined the battle, and today offers several awesome shows designed to contribute to this worthy cause. For schools also wishing to teach an awareness of bullying, and ways in which it can be prevented, there are some great choices. We offer four great shows in this area. Stronger Than a Bully and You've Got a Friend both follow the work of Izzy Kalman and his pioneering work with Bullies2Buddies. The No Bully Zone is designed around the precepts of work put forth by the OLWEUS group. And in a related area we offer Inspector Iwannano carrying on the work of Character Counts and the Six Pillars of Character. All are fine shows.

To give you some idea of how these shows are received, here are some recent reviews from Stronger Than a Bully in performance in schools in a variety of locations.

Here is one from Highland Elementary in Highland, Illinois:

“Absolutely awesome! I wish all schools were able to witness and participate in your program. A sixth grade student confessed that she cried during the last part. This program touches kids hearts.”

And here is one from a school in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania:

“Phenomenal! Dave Mitchell did a wonderful job! Educational, entertaining and timely. We are hoping to have a school full of smiling heroes!”

And this from North Royalton, Ohio:

“Terrific presentation! Timely, relevant and well worth the cost.”

And here from Libertyville, Illinois:

“David was excellent – personality, presentation skills, professional! For a very serious topic he gave the students easy to understand tools to deal with a bully. Mobile Ed does it again!”

We are blushing a little now.

But here is another, this time from North Judson, Indiana:

“Very well done! One student was compelled to apologize to another friend on the bus whom he bullied two years ago. It got through to them.”

That is our point and we are glad it seems to be working!

Some more...

“The teachers gave high praise to the performance” - Red Bud, Illinois

“Dave Mitchell was a delight!” - Clarksville, Tennessee

“Fantastic program! I highly recommend it to any school system.” - Speedway, Indiana

“Excellent program with a timely subject matter. The students really enjoyed the program.” - Hayden, Indiana

Now, lest you think only Stronger Than a Bully gets these reviews, here are a couple from You've Got a Friend:Stronger Than a Bully II:

“Dave Mitchell was engaging for all K-5 students. The kids loved the puppets, the message and the magic!” - Libertyville, Illinois

“Mr. Mitchell did a great job engaging students and driving home an important message." - Lamar, Indiana

Now these reviews are all from the Midwest because that is where David starts his tour every year, so these are all from performances that have taken place since mid August. David is currently on the East coast earning, we are sure, equally fine reviews which we will try to publish later along with some for our other Bully Awareness programs. Meantime, be aware... November is right around the corner! What are you doing for your students to observe and support this crucial message? Give us a call! Whether you are out East, in the Midwest or out West in Colorado or Texas, one of our tours may be in your area in November and we just might still have a slot left open just for you!

Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fieldsof science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN. He also spent ten years coordinating assembly programs for the elementary school where his own children went to school.