MWAH! tells Marseilles students: 'Talk to somebody'
The Times newspaper, published in Ottawa, Illinois – September 12, 2012
Published by The Times
By Kate Reynolds for The Times
Participating with the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe at Marseilles Elementary School on September 10, 2012 was State Representative Pam Roth (R-Morris), who shared with the audience how her eighth grade son was able to help several of his classmates who were being bullied. In the foreground is a photo of Jamey Rodemeyer from Williamsville, New York, a suburb of Buffalo, who was unable to receive the help he sought when he was bullied in middle school and as a freshman in high school because he was gay. He committed suicide in September 2011 when he was 14.
(photo by Jeremy Reed)
MWAH! artists Rob Delgado (left), Jacob Metoyer, and Jake Smith serenade
Emily Brockman, a sixth grade student at Marseilles Elementary School with
the Ritchie Valens song 'We Belong Together' during a lighter moment of the
90-minute assembly.
(photo by Jeremy Reed)
Marseilles Elementary School students spent Monday morning learning about intolerance, diversity, bullying, anger and what drugs and alcohol can do to their lives. MWAH! (Messages Which Are Hopeful) Performing Arts Troupe was there to make sure students got positive messages on how to handle those tough situations that can make them feel alone, make them feel there's no one to talk to or understand them.
Sixth-graders Jenna Maske and Hailey Provenzano stood in a long line of students waiting to go into the gymnasium.
"I'm pretty excited," Maske said. "I'm sure this will be awesome," Provenzano added.
Troupe member Sarah Saltiel began with examples of intolerance: mass killings in a Colorado movie theater and a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin. She talked of the controversy erupting over the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman shooting.
Suddenly, a student actor stood up in the bleachers. "Trayvon was killed because he was a black person," he loudly shouted. He was escorted from the gymnasium. When Sarah began talking, again she was loudly interrupted by another student actor. "George Zimmerman is not a racist." He, too, was escorted out of the gym.
"The loss of one life can cause national controversies," Sarah said, looking at enlarged photos of both Martin and Zimmerman. Students then heard a live recording of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech before the troupe performed John Lennon's song, 'Imagine.'
"And wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all live in peace without anger. No one would have to die," Sarah said.
There were many talks and performances about bullying, diversity and heroes. Six "hero" students were called down from the bleachers by school social worker Stacy Brannan. "But I want you to know that all of our students are heroes to me," she told them.
The six sat in chairs in the middle of the gym while troupe members gathered around each student, singing, 'I Can Be Your Hero.'
Some troupe members are victims of bullying. Justice Henderson talked about how he always felt different. "I'm not acting right now. I've heard all those mean words. My dad has been in prison for most of my life. My mom lives somewhere else because of drugs. But it wasn't my choice to be born. I'm here to tell you that if I can succeed, so can you."
State Rep. Pam Roth (R-Morris), talked about her son, who's in eighth grade. "When I was a kid, there was not a lot of talk about bullying, but we had cliques. I'm sure you do, too. But you have to remember to be yourself. My son came home and told me that some of his close friends were saying mean things about the girls in school and that it wasn't right. When I asked what the girls did, he told me nothing. They're powerless against the boys. I told him to tell his friends that's not the way. I called the parents and turns out those parents didn't know they were bullying the girls. Now my son tells me things at school are better. I'm asking you all to think before you talk. At the end of the day we all have to co-exist, and we're here to learn. There are bullying laws, and the state takes this seriously. So remember, at the end of the day, you are responsible for your actions."
"I was watching some of the students during the show," Brannan later said. "Some of them looked very serious when the group talked about suicide and showed all the photos of students who made that choice. I think the kids understood the messages. This is the fourth year we've had MWAH! here, and it's always a success."
Sixth-graders James Pavelek thought the show was very good but said, "I was embarrassed when they called me down. The girl was singing to me, and then I had to dance with her!"
"I really liked it," Maske said after it was over. "The dancing and the music were great."
Rachel Plasch joined MWAH! last summer. "At some point we all struggle with things. I'm here because I want students to know they should never feel so alone that they think there is no one to talk to. There are many options, and we only get one life. Just talk to someone, and you will feel better."
Another MWAH! member, Jake Smith, agreed. "Just talk to somebody. When you are confronted with drugs, alcohol or bullying, find someone to talk to. You are not alone."
For more information about MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe, visit their website, www.mwah.net .