Operation Respect: Health Story

Aired on Superstation WGN
Saturday, October 1, 2005
Show 225

Nearly 7 million kids engage in or are victims of bullying. "It's tormenting someone physically or mentally," says Jimal, a student at John J. Pershing School in Chicago, Illinois.

Monica Pembroke, a teacher at John J. Pershing, says, "Our kids dread coming to school."

And Katherine Volk, the principal, admits, "We had a problem and didn't realize it." The school is one of 10,000 schools that has since implemented a program called Operation Respect.

"Operation Respect is preventive," says Susan Vieweg, Administrative Director of the Children's Brain Research Foundation.

"The program started with a song," says Operation Respect founder Peter Yarrow of the singing group Peter Paul and Mary. "It tries to create a situation where kids treat each other compassionately, accept differences and respect something inside them. Not only hearts, but health is at risk," says Peter.

"Academic achievement is effected by kids' feelings. We have to make sure kids feel okay," say Mark Weiss, Education Director at Operation Respect.

"This is one of the most fulfilling things I've done," says Peter. After implementing the program and making a documentary about it, John J. Pershing School is a different place these days.

"We're proud of our school. It needed to be talked about," says Jimal.