Kids make anti-violence TV commercial
JANESVILLE — Students at a Janesville charter school have an idea about what causes school shootings and other violence among kids their age.
They've taken that knowledge and used it to produce a public service announcement being shown during Charter Communications cable TV programs.
The students at TAGOS Leadership Academy took on the job of writers, editors, camera people and actors to produce the video.
The PSA shows a girl who feels alone and alienated as other students shun her at school. She drops her notebook. A boy picks it up for her. The act of kindness makes her day.
"We were trying to tell a story," said TAGOS 10th-grader Evan Cook. "The idea is that somebody might be feeling worthless, but if somebody helps them, they can feel a whole lot better."
Evan said he was one of those kids who was picked on by others. Fellow PSA producer Annie Showers-Curtis said she was picked on, too.
"There's a lot of bullying going on. I know how it feels to be bullied," said Showers-Curtis, an 11th-grader. "I know how it feels to be alienated and not part of the group. But all it takes is one person to do something nice for you, and it just makes your day."
If no one ever reaches out, the result could be depression and never talking about the problem, which could lead to suicide, Annie said. "Or we could have another Columbine on our hands, and nobody wants that."
The video's message is meant for young people: "Just be nicer to people, and it will really make a difference," Cook said.
The video was scheduled to begin showing Oct. 24. It will run thousands of times in 40 Charter markets during the school year, said Charter spokesman Bob Pinter.
The effort was a collaboration with Charter, the Blue Ribbon of Promise anti-violence campaign and the Wisconsin Center for School, Youth and Citizen Preparedness.
Click here to view the video.
Oct 29, 2008 at 5:07 p.m.
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I think it's clear that Annie and her friends not only "got a grip," but went on to use their experiences (and considerable talents) for the betterment of themselves and others. That's pretty meaningful and positive. Good job.
Oct 28, 2008 at 5:37 p.m.
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This looks great and was probably a terrific learning experience for the kids. I don't think you need to overthink it. It's young people speaking directly to other young people, not some rhetorical comment on society.
Oct 28, 2008 at 8:58 a.m.
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Now I didnt interpet the statement as going to happen it said "If no one ever reaches out, the result could be depression and never talking about the problem, which could lead to suicide, Annie said. "Or we could have another Columbine on our hands, and nobody wants that" Some kids today are much more brutal then when I was a kid and it is sad. I think its great that these kids are making a point in a positive way.. They found away to maybe change some of the things that affect our kids as a whole.At 54 years old and 4 sons in the schools I have seen and heard more then I needed to. Kudos to the students at Charter!
Oct 28, 2008 at 8:49 a.m.
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I understand what they are doing here but for the girl to suggest that if no one did anything kind to her there could be another columbine? Yikes! That tells me some of these kids are in need of some serious help! When I was in school, If ya got picked on or shunned because of peer pressure, Ya just got a grip, Walked away and went on with life. Those who bullied or shunned me were stunned and apoligetic awhile later. We never would of thought to shoot up a school for gods sake! What has happened to all our morals? For a janesville teen to say that, this is scarey!
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