President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are getting tough on bullies.
On Thursday, the Obamas will welcome students, parents and teachers to the White House for a conference on bullying prevention. The day-long event will also include officials from the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.
According to the White House, the conference will bring together Americans from across the country who have been affected by bullying, as well as those who are taking action to address the problem.
Last fall, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden taped video messages for the “It Gets Better” campaign and discussed the need to dispel the myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage.
“This is personal to me,” Obama said. “When I was a young adult, I faced the jokes and taunting that too many of our youth face today, and I considered suicide as a way out. But I was fortunate. One of my co-workers recognized that I was hurting, and I soon confided in her. She cared enough to push me to seek help. She saved my life. I will always be grateful for her compassion and support – the same compassion and support that so many kids need today.”
The president and first lady appear in a new Facebook video to push their campaign to end bullying in the nation’s schools. WhiteHouse.gov/live will also have live video Thursday, including online chats where parents and students can discuss bullying with experts on the subject.
article courtesy of BlackAmericaWeb.com/Video from YouTube.com
