Go to Bat for Respect
Make Everyone Safe from Bullying
This Newspapers
in Education
Program
Presented By
Nonprofit for
2 Fall 2014
A message from
Ian Kinsler
When you go to bat in baseball, you have to respect the talents of
the pitcher. And the pitcher has to respect your talents. This two-way
respect makes the competition fair and fun, because it gives each of
you an equal chance to succeed.
Off the field, two-way respect is just as important. Showing respect
for others — and getting respect in return — helps you build good
relationships, understand differences and resolve problems fairly and
peacefully.
One big problem today is bullying, and every student should know
how respect can stop or prevent it.
That’s why this year’s Tigers anti-bullying program is called “Go
to Bat for Respect.” And it is why I am proud to be its spokesperson.
In my time in baseball, I have learned how important respect is
on the field — two-way respect with opponents and even my own
teammates. Now I want to share ways that same kind of respect can
help you off the field to stop or prevent bullying.
This year’s program builds on the lessons and success of anti-bullying
programs the team has run for the last three seasons. But it goes
further. With advice from Tigers players, it shows how respect is what
gives people the power to stand up to bullies and reduce the reasons
people might want to bully in the first place.
Respect is a powerful force — more powerful than bullying. Bullying is based on DISrespect. Bullies feel it’s OK to put people down,
threaten them or hurt them physically.
Respect shows bullies it’s NOT OK to do this, in person, in groups
or on the Internet.
When you “Go to Bat for Respect” you tell bullies it’s NOT OK to
make people feel bad because of the way they look, where they live
or what their families are like.
Learn with the Newspaper
Respect is a powerful force — more powerful than bullying
or other negative behaviors. Respect gives people an equal
chance to succeed and to be all they can be. In the newspaper
or online, find words and images that show positive things
that can happen when people respect each other. Clip or
print out the words and images and use them to create a
poster titled “It’s All About Respect.”
Credits: This Newspapers in Education supplement was commissioned from Hollister
Creative by Michigan K.I.D.S., Inc. for Detroit Media Partnership Newspapers in Education
under the direction of Debora Scola. Copyright © 2014 Detroit Media Partnership.
The program was made possible by support from the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit
Tigers Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities. Additional support was provided by
Subway restaurants, the Michigan State Police, 98.7 AMP Radio and the anti-bullying
program Defeat the Label. The writer of the supplement was Peter Landry.
Special thanks to Elaine Lewis, Jordan Field, Ellen Hill Zeringue, Angela Perez and
Ron Wade of the Detroit Tigers for providing Tigers content and photos. Cover photo
and photos of the Tigers’ “Strike Out Bullying” day were taken by Rob Widdis.
You tell bullies it’s NOT OK to pick on people because they are
smaller, less strong or less confident.
You tell bullies it’s NOT OK to threaten or put down people as a group.
You tell bullies — and everyone else — it’s NOT OK to treat people
with less respect than you would want to be given.
That’s a powerful message to send to others.
So as you start the school year, make a pledge to send that message.
Send it with me and the Tigers.
“Go to Bat for Respect.”
Fall 2014 3
Students Like You
Lead the Way Against Bullying
Bullying can be a problem in any school, and statistics show one out
of every three students experiences it at some point.
But in Michigan, students like you have taken a stand against bullying by teaming up with the Detroit Tigers and working to
make schools safer and more respectful places.
This is the fourth year the Tigers, the Detroit
Tigers Foundation, Michigan K.I.D.S., the Detroit
Free Press and The Detroit News have worked
together to reduce the threats and dangers
of bullying.
Nearly 250,000 students across the state
have joined in this anti-bullying effort and
thousands more will take part when they
“Go to Bat for Respect” as part of the
program this fall.
The effort, support and commitment of
Michigan’s students have drawn national
attention — and made the program the
best anti-bullying program in Major League
Baseball.
Last winter the Tigers were honored with the
Major League’s top community service award for
their anti-bullying efforts and the support given by
the students and schools taking part.
“The Tigers’ efforts to educate young people and teachers
about preventing and reducing bullying in schools … are remarkable,
and I congratulate their entire organization,” Baseball Commissioner
Allan “Bud” Selig said when announcing the award.
With the support of Michigan K.I.D.S. and the Detroit Tigers
Foundation, the program has reached students in 90 percent of the
counties in the state.
Thousands of students have signed the Tigers Pledge to Stop
Bullying and learned how to deal with bullies with the team’s PAWS
mascot and the PAWS Plan for Fair Play.
Thousands more took part and signed the Pledge as part of anti-
bullying programs at Tigers games this summer and last.
“We are proud to be part of the movement to prevent bullying
and humbled to be recognized for our efforts,” said David Dombrowski,
the Tigers president, CEO and general manager.
But there is always more that can be done.
According to the anti-bullying group called the
National School Climate Center:
• In many school communities, more than
50 percent of students do not feel safe in
school.
• More and more research shows that
mean, cruel and/or bullying behaviors
negatively affect everyone — victims,
witnesses and bullies themselves.
• The entire school community is affected
by the negative behavior of even a
minority of students acting like bullies.
Why Do People Bully?
People bully others for many reasons.
Some people bully because they want to
impress a peer group or a group they want to get
“in” with.
Some bully because they are having problems or feel bad
about themselves, and think bullying others will make them feel
better or stronger.
Some bully because they see other people behave like bullies —
brothers, sisters, parents or other kids in the neighborhood.
Some bully because they feel if they don’t bully someone, someone
else will bully them.
Both Boys and Girls
Both boys and girls can be bullies and both boys and girls can be
the targets of bullies.
Boys are more likely to use physical violence — or the threat of
violence — to bully.
Girls are more likely to use words, gossip, putdowns and stares to
bully or intimidate others.
At the same time, some girls are violent bullies and some boys use
words or putdowns to bully.
And both boys and girls use the Internet, text messages, e-mail,
Twitter and social sites like Facebook for electronic bullying — called
“cyberbullying.”
If you see bullying, or are the victim of bullying, a new statewide
anti-bullying hotline has been set up to report it — and you don’t
have to give your name. (For details, see Page 7.)
4 Fall 2014
Listen to
Nick Castellanos
Third baseman Nick Castellanos is 6’4” and 210 pounds and has
always been a great athlete. So you wouldn’t think he would have
much experience with bullying.
Yet he still remembers times when he was growing up when he had
to “stand up for other kids” who were being bullied.
“A perfect example is my little brother, who always hung out with
me and my friends,” he recalls. “I am two years older than he is and
a lot times he was the butt end of jokes.
“I would try to protect him and let the bullies know it was not all
right,” Castellanos adds. “Once I stood up for him and let the bullies
know I had his back, it made the whole situation a lot better.”
Putting an end to bullying starts with respect, Castellanos says —
respect for others, respect for differences, respect for people’s
abilities.
“I think it’s important for kids to respect each other and learn to
respect everyone,” says the 22-year-old Castellanos, who’s in his first
full season with the Tigers. “I believe most bullying is when kids pick
Third
Baseman
out differences. When kids learn to appreciate each other for who
they are, it just creates a better school environment.”
It’s especially important to respect yourself, Castellanos says, so that
you’ll have the self-confidence to stand up to bullies, or step in when
you see others being bullied. When everyone has self-respect, it
creates a positive environment in which bullying has no place
“If you don’t respect yourself, how can you respect others?” he asks.
“When you learn how to respect yourself and appreciate yourself for
who you truly are, it’s easier to give that feeling toward others.
“When you give off that sort of confidence and respect, it gives
others the opportunity to reach out to you and do the same.”
Castellanos earned plenty of respect when he was growing up
in Florida.
In high school he led two different schools to state championships
— once as a sophomore and once as a senior after transferring.
In his senior year he batted an eye-popping .542 and was named
Gatorade Player of the Year for the entire state. In 2009, he earned a
spot on the U.S. team for the Pan American Junior Championships for
players under 18 and batted .356 to lead the team to a gold medal.
After considering a baseball scholarship to the powerhouse University of Miami program, he was drafted by the Tigers with the 44th pick
in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.
Though he had played shortstop in high school, the Tigers shifted
him to third base, and this year he became the team’s starter at the
position.
As a rookie, he has found respect to be as important on the field,
as it is off the field.
“Without respect it’s hard to accomplish anything as a rookie in
baseball,” he says. “Respect is huge. When you show it to your
teammates and your opponents, you are a lot more well received.
When you are surrounded by peers who respect you and like you,
it’s a lot easier to have success.”
Learn with the Newspaper
Showing respect, and expecting respect in return, is the first
step toward putting an end to bullying. As third baseman Nick
Castellanos says, “it’s imporant for kids to respect each other,”
because that makes it possible for everyone to succeed. In the
newspaper or online, find a story in which respect helps people
become successful. Write a paragraph, detailing how respect
was shown and how it made success possible.
Fall 2014 5
The PAWS Plan
for Fair Play
Make Everyone Safe from Bullying
The Tigers mascot PAWS is always looking for ways to make
communities better.
So this fall he is joining Tigers players to get students to “Go to Bat
for Respect” as a way to stop bullying.
The goal is to “Make Everyone Safe from Bullying,” and to do that
PAWS is offering “The PAWS Plan for Fair Play.”
The PAWS Plan contains advice from bullying experts that can help
you if you are bullied and show you what to do if you see someone
else being bullied. And remember that each piece of advice will be
even more effective if you have respect for others, and respect for
yourself. So “Go to Bat for Respect” with the PAWS Plan for Fair Play.
If You Are Bullied …
1. Speak Up. Nobody likes to be picked on, but ignoring the situation
will make it worse. Calmly tell the bully “Stop it.”
2. Never Fight Back, but firmly tell the bully “leave me alone” and
walk away with confidence.
3. Tell an Adult You Trust. Many kids feel embarrassed they have
been bullied, but you need to tell an adult who can offer ways to
help you.
4. Stick Together. Staying with a group will help discourage bullies.
Bullies like to pick on people who seem alone.
5. Remember It’s Not Your Fault. Nobody deserves to be bullied.
Talk to a friend or trusted adult about how you feel.
6. Do Not Bully Back. Never bully someone else because someone
bullied you.
7. Don’t Let the Bully Win. Keep doing what you love to do. Keep
coming to school. Keep following your interests.
If Someone Else Is Bullied …
1. Speak Up. If you feel safe in the situation, tell the bully “Stop it.”
2. Tell an Adult. Kids who are being bullied are sometimes scared to
tell an adult. But a bystander can tell an adult — and should. At
school, tell a teacher, an aide, a coach, a custodian, a guard or the
principal.
3. Be a Friend. Even if you don’t know the person being bullied, go
over to them. Let them know how you think they are feeling. Walk
with them.
4. Stop Untrue Messages. If someone spreads rumors or messages
you know are untrue, tell the person you know this is wrong, and
tell others as well.
5. Get Friends Involved. Get your friends to help a person who is
being bullied.
6. Refuse to Be a Bystander. If you see friends laughing along with
a bully, let them know that by laughing they also are being bullies
to the victim.
Sources: The National Anti-Bullying Website,
www.StopBullying.gov; the BullyBust
Program of the National School Climate Center,
www.schoolclimate.org/bullybust/; Detroit Public
Schools, http://detroitk12.org/resources/bully/
Defeat the Label Program Takes Anti-Bullying Message Nationwide
Defeat Defeat the Label, a nonprofit organization dedicated to
putting an end to bullying, was founded in Metro Detroit, but in
just three years it has grown to have impact across the nation and
around the world.
Based in Bloomfield Hills, Defeat the Label is working to
promote “a bully free society without social labels and stereotypes” by “putting the power for change where it belongs — in
students’ hands.”
“We’ve all been called names,” the group declares on its website www.defeatthelabel.com. “Many of us have been bullied.
Enough is enough! ... Together we can put an end to bullying.”
Supported by entertainers like Joe Jonas, Lucy Hale and After
Romeo and by athletes like the Detroit Red Wings, Defeat the
Label offers multiple local in-school programs, such as the Defeat
the Label in Your School Tour and Upstander Program. The
Upstander Program is an education curriculum that inspires kids
to devise new ways for spreading the message of tolerance and
inclusion throughout their schools and communities.
Defeat the Label is partnering with the Detroit Tigers in the
team’s anti-bullying “Go to Bat for Respect” program and is
raising money to bring its programs to more school communities.
For the last three years Defeat the Label has also organized
millions of students to join together and speak out against bullying in a Stand 4 Change Day program the first weekend of May.
More than one million students from every U.S. state and 40
nations around the world joined the program the first year, and
it has grown every year since then. Participants take the Defeat
the Label Pledge, which declares: “I will not allow social labels to
define others or myself. I will take a stand against bullying in my
school. Starting today, I will stand up and Defeat the Label.”
6 Fall 2014
Listen to
Ian Kinsler
Second baseman Ian Kinsler is a big believer in cause and effect.
If he gets a good swing on a ball, for example, he knows there’s a
good chance he could hit it out of the park for a home run. Or if he
gets on base, there’s a good chance he could steal a base to get in a
better position to score.
Kinsler also believes in cause and effect when it comes to finding
a way to prevent or stop bullying.
“If all children can respect each other,” Kinsler says, “bullying will
cease. Respect among children is the most important thing.”
Kinsler, who has earned lots of respect as an American League AllStar, is in his first season with the Tigers, having come over from the
Texas Rangers last winter in a trade for first baseman Prince Fielder.
He was named an All-Star for the fourth time this summer after
a strong performance in the first half of the season.
He’s a multi-talented player, with both power and speed. In fact,
he is one of just 12 Major Leaguers to have both 30 home runs and
30 stolen bases in one season more than once.
His achievements and success have given him the self-confidence
players need to succeed at the highest level.
They also have given him self-respect — something every person
needs, he says, and something that is essential to putting an end to
bullying.
“It’s very important to have self-respect and self-confidence,” says
the 32-year-old Kinsler. “If you respect yourself, you will be able to
respect others. And if you respect yourself, you’ll be able to rely on
yourself and think positively if people say negative things about you.”
That is important to remember, because bullies not only threaten
people physically, but often use words to put down or make fun of
people in person or on the Internet.
When faced with such situations, Kinsler says, you need to have
self-respect and self-confidence. And you need to see how others
have been empowered by respect.
Learn with the Newspaper
Self-respect is something every person needs — and something
that is a key to stopping bullying. “It’s very important to have
self-respect and self-confidence,” says second baseman Ian
Kinsler. In the newspaper or online, find a story about a person
who has self-respect and self-confidence. Read the story and
use what you learn to write a short letter to the editor telling
others how having self-respect can help solve the problem of
bullying or other problems students may face.
Second Baseman
Kinsler saw that first hand with a teammate he had with the Texas
Rangers, for whom he played for eight years before being traded to
the Tigers.
“I had a teammate, Michael Young, who respects the game, his
teammates and fans,” Kinsler says. “He was my teammate and now
he’s my opponent, but I learned a lot about respect from him.”
Young always treats other people with respect, Kinsler says, but respect means more than that to him. It means showing respect for everything in your life, from your career to your friends to your family.
“I learned so much from him in terms of how to prepare myself for
the game, how to work hard, how to deal with my family after losing
a game,” Kinsler says. “Michael was all about respect.”
That’s especially important when working to make schools safe
from bullying. Recognizing people’s skills and respecting their differences creates a climate of respect in which bullying has no place.
“Every kid has different abilities and different strengths, whether
it’s math, science or physical education,” Kinsler says. “The best way
to lead is to lead by example. Always do your work, always be on
time, follow instructions and directions from your teacher and respect
your peers.”
Fall 2014 7
Statewide Anti-Bullying
& Student Safety Hotline Now
Available for Students to Call
When students are bullied — or see bullying taking place — a big
question has always been “Who do you tell?”
It’s always good to tell a trusted adult, but many students do not
do that because they fear the bullies will find out and “get back”
at them.
This fall, for the first time, students anywhere in Michigan can
report bullying by calling a statewide hotline — and they
don’t have to give their name.
The hotline is called OK2SAY, and that’s what
state leaders want students to know — it’s
“OK2SAY” something about
bullying to put an end to it.
The hotline, which has been in the
works for two years, gives students
a variety of ways to report bullying, cyberbullying with the Internet and other threats of
violence.
You may call in information
by phone (1-855-5OK-2SAY),
by text (652-729) or by email
[email protected]. You also may
download an app for smart
phones from the Apple Store
or Android.
Inspired by a program begun
in Colorado after the deadly
shooting at Columbine High
School, the Michigan hotline is
designed to stop or prevent all
levels of violence, according to the
Michigan Attorney General’s Office,
which is running the hotline with the
Michigan State Police.
“We expect the Number One types of calls will
be for bullying and cyberbullying,” says Sue Sanford, the
OK2SAY program director for the Attorney General’s Office. “If kids
can report it without being labeled a snitch, that will be the linchpin
of the program. If kids have a way to report safety issues this way,
they will report it.”
The hotline is staffed by Michigan State Police Troopers, who work
with local police and school officials all over the state.
If a tip involves “a potential crime” or attack, Sanford says, it will
go to local police or the State Police, as well as the school involved
(students are still encouraged to call 911 if there is an immediate
emergency).
If a tip involves bullying, cyberbullying or a student being depressed
or distraught, it will go to the local school so that an adult can step in.
“I really think bullying is the area we can make an impact,” Sanford
says. “If word gets out to the schools that somebody is being
bullied, steps can be taken to make things better.
“Kids often are afraid to say anything,” she adds.
“At the least, a school counselor can reach out to
a kid who is being bullied, and school
officials can take steps to stop the bully.”
The hotline gives students a way to
report bullying behavior no matter
where they go to school.
“It’s kind of scary, but there have
been kids who changed schools and
the bullying followed them, particularly cyberbullying,” Sanford says.
To address such issues, the
OK2SAY program is sending
representatives into schools to
speak directly to students about
bullying, cyberbullying and the
importance of using the hotline
to stop problems.
Schools wishing to schedule a
presentation, can go to the OK2SAY
website and click on the tab for school
presentations to get information.
The website is www.mi.gov/OK2SAY.
To report bullying:
call 1-855-5OK-2SAY
text 652-729
email ok2say@ mi.gov
8 Fall 2014
Listen to
Rajai Davis
In his nine years in the Major Leagues,
Tigers outfielder Rajai Davis has been one
of the best base stealers in baseball.
In nine seasons he has stolen more than
20 bases and in four of those he stole more
than 40. In his best year, in 2010, he stole an
even 50.
For a base stealer like Davis, the first step is
the most important. It’s how a runner gets a
“jump” on the pitcher and a head start to
the next base.
The first step you take when you encounter
bullying also may be the most important,
Davis says.
“The first step is recognizing it right away,
and if you don’t like something take a stand
right there and don’t allow it to happen,”
Davis says. “I can remember a time when I
was being bullied growing up, and the
problem is if you don’t stop it right away,
then it will continue.”
The key to stopping bullying is respect,
Davis says — respect for yourself and your
right not to be bullied.
“You have to take care of yourself, and a
part of taking care of yourself is respecting
yourself,” says Davis, who grew up in
Norwich and New London, Connecticut.
“You’re going to grow up one day and
respecting yourself is going to be something
you want to do. It’s a choice we have to
make.”
This is the first season with the Tigers for
the 33-year-old Davis. He joined the team as
Outfielder
a free agent in the off season, after three
years with the Toronto Blue Jays. Before that
he had played three years with the Oakland
Athletics and parts of two seasons with both
the San Francisco Giants and the Pittsburgh
Pirates.
In his Major League career, Davis has
learned a lot about the importance of
respect — respect for opponents, respect for
their skills, respect for what others can teach
you.
“At this level, you have to respect all your
opponents,” he says. “Each person at this
level has ability that has separated them
from others. That’s what allowed them to
make it to the big leagues.”
You also can improve your own game by
“learning and listening to people who have
achieved success.”
Inside and outside sports, respect helps
people build good relationships and prevent
or stop problems like bullying, Davis says.
“You earn respect by showing respect, and
by giving respect you earn respect,” he says.
“If you want respect, you must respect others
first and respect shall be given unto you.”
Davis earned respect early as a top athlete.
He played for a championship Little League
team when he was 10, and in high school he
earned letters in baseball, basketball and
football. He attended college at a branch
of the University of Connecticut and was
drafted by the Pirates as a second baseman
in the 2001 Major League Draft.
Self-respect and self-confidence helped him
overcome the challenges he faced, including
that long-ago bullying experience.
Now he wants to help kids develop selfrespect and self-confidence to overcome
their own challenges.
“Some people are raised in difficult
situations and have to make difficult adult
decisions at a young age,” he says. “But a lot
of people have been successful who came
out of a rough childhood.
“A difficult situation is no excuse,” he
adds. “You have to think positive and
surround yourself with positive people.
You have to continue to work hard for
your dreams to be successful. You have to
give respect to earn respect.”
In other words, you have to “Go to Bat
for Respect” whenever you can.
Fall 2014 9
Thousands Stand Tall
to Strike Out Bullying
at Comerica Park
Students, schools and families in communities all over Michigan have been working to
put an end to bullying.
But if you wanted to feel how unified
people are in the effort, you couldn’t top
the moment in the Tigers’ special “Strike Out
Bullying” program before their game with
the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, August 17.
Fifty students and parents from across the
state led a parade around the field carrying
the “Strike Out Bullying” banner they had
signed.
They marched the banner to home plate,
where seven students stood tall, each reading a line from the Tigers Pledge to Stop
Bullying.
Then, as if they were one person, more
than 40,000 students, parents and fans rose
to their feet to show support for the antibullying message (see Page 12).
“Seeing that just gave you goosebumps,”
said Ellen Hill Zeringue, the Tigers Vice President of Marketing. “To see a sold out crowd
standing as one to put an end to
bullying was so inspiring. It really
showed that people in every community want our schools and neighborhoods to be bully-free.”
This year’s “Strike Out Bullying”
program was the second such event
the team has presented at Comerica
Park, and it put a spotlight on how
united students are about putting a stop
to bullying.
At the event students from all over the
state got an opportunity to show support
for the Tigers anti-bullying effort by signing
the sidewalk where the Tigers Pledge was
displayed outside the ballpark.
A student representing the Defeat the
Label anti-bullying program threw out the
first pitch, and more than 8,000 students
under age 14 received Strike Out Cyberbullying wristbands from the Michigan State
Police.
Students also got to pose for pictures with
Tigers mascot PAWS and the Yak from the
Detroit Newspaper in Education to spread
the anti-bullying message, and a DJ and the
Promotions Team from 98.7 AMP Radio was
also present.
Defeat the Label, 98.7 AMP Radio, the
Michigan State Police and Subway restaurants are all sponsors and supporters of this
year’s “Strike Out Bullying” program.
Michigan State Police Work Year Round to Stop Bullying
Eliminating bullying in schools and neighborhoods is an important goal for the Michigan State Police.
It’s so important, they go into elementary, middle and high
schools throughout the year to offer information and advice to
help students prevent bullying.
The anti-bullying effort is part of the State Police T.E.A.M.
program — which stands for Teaching, Educating And Mentoring.
The program seeks to make communities and schools safer by
teaching about social rules and responsibilities, positive behaviors
and what to do when experiencing or witnessing bullying.
Community Service Troopers (CSTs) go into schools all over the
state, and in 2013 they reached more than 94,000 elementary,
middle and high school students, according to Sgt. Duane Zook
of the Prevention Services Unit of the State Police.
For elementary students, the program stresses “Being a Good
Friend and Classmate” for Grades K-2 and “Don’t Be a Bully, Be
a Friend” for Grades 3-5. Both are designed to teach the basics
of what bullying is (and is not), how to recognize bullying and
ways to stop bullying.
The middle school program stresses that “Bystanders Are the
Solution” and teaches how to recognize hostile environments, the
motivations of bullies, the impact on victims and how bystanders
can intervene to address situations.
The “Bullying Awareness for High School” program extends
the lessons of the middle school effort, especially the impact on
victims and ways to correct hostile environments.
Both the middle and high school programs address the problem
of cyber-bullying through the Internet and social media and offer
advice on how to stop it.
Schools wishing to schedule a visit from a Community Service
Trooper for an anti-bullying program can get information online
at www. Michigan.gov/mspcst by clicking on the “Find a CST” link
in the CST Breakout Box. A map of Michigan counties will appear
and contact information pops up when you click on a county.
10 Fall 2014
Listen to
Phil Coke
Phil Coke has been a top athlete all his life and a Major League
pitcher for seven years.
But he knows first hand what bullying can do to people.
“I know that it’s hard to believe, but I’ve been bullied
myself, “he says. “If I had had more skills to help myself, I
would have been able to stop what was occurring sooner.
“If I had not been afraid to say something to a teacher
or even the principal — if I hadn’t been scared to do that
— I wouldn’t have gone through so many different levels
of bullying. It’s important for kids to learn skills to help
them stop bullying.”
One of the most important things, in Coke’s view, is
to learn the importance of respect.
“It all starts with respect,” he says. “Respect for
other kids, respect for their right not to be hassled,
respect for their right to go to school, play sports
or pursue other interests without threats or
intimidation.
“Every kid can be a leader when it comes to
stopping bullies,” he adds. “Every kid can give
support to someone who is being bullied, let
bullies know it’s not cool to bully and let
adults know when bullying is happening.”
Coke is in his fifth season with the Tigers,
and he has been involved in the team’s antibullying efforts right from the start.
He was the spokesman for the program in
its first year and as a result was called to testify
at a hearing for U.S. Attorney General Eric
Learn with
the Newspaper
Tigers pitcher Phil Coke says putting an end to
bullying “starts with respect” — respect for people
being bullied, respect for differences, respect for
people’s right “not to be hassled.” Respect between
people always improves things for the better. In the
newspaper, find a story or photo that features a group
of people involved in an activity or situation. Read the
story or study the photo. For each person involved, write
how he or she could be shown respect by others. Then write
how each person could show respect to others or the group.
Relief Pitcher
Holder’s National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence —
a nationwide effort to reduce childhood violence.
“Bullying holds kids back, whether it involves physical threats, verbal
threats or put-downs over the Internet,” Coke says. “I know. I’ve
been there. And I know every kid can step up to be a leader to stop
bullying.”
When bullying occurs, he says, “Somebody’s got to do something. If you’re a witness to bullying of any sort, or a victim of
bullying of any sort, you need to find an adult and let them
know about the situation. Because if you don’t and you let it
go, it’s going to continue.”
Coke knows that is hard for some kids, who fear that
they’ll be seen as “selling out” or “being a snitch” if
they report bullying.
That’s “backwards” thinking, says Coke,
who is 32 years old. “I think it is incredibly
important and intelligent to be willing to
stop bullying, and not be the one that is
doing the bullying. Why is it okay to put the
person that’s doing the bullying on a
pedestal because you’re scared that
if you don’t he’s going to come
after you or she’s going to come
after you? I’m sorry, but I think
we’ve got it backwards.”
Growing up in Sonora, California, Coke says he was a kid who
was willing to stand up to bullying when he saw it happening.
But he cautions today’s students
not to put themselves in “a bad
position” that could grow violent.
It’s better to find an adult — a
teacher, a counselor, a playground
aide — “just to get eyes on the
situation.”
“There’s always somebody that you
can find,” he says. “Get in touch
with an adult and let them
know about the situation.”
Fall 2014 11
GO TO
BAT
for
Respect
Go to Bat for Respect: End Bullying
You don’t have to play Major League Baseball to make a big impact in someone’s life. If you or someone you know is
being picked on, stand up and speak out against bullies.
SUBWAY® restaurants have teamed up with your Detroit Tigers to go to bat for kids. Help put an end to bullying at
your school by participating in the Go to Bat for Respect contest.
To enter, create a poster or video that describes an occasion when you’ve stood up for yourself, something you
believed in, or someone that needed your help–even if it wasn’t popular. One grand prize winner will win a $500
SUBWAY® cash card and a $1,000 grant for their school. All runners-up will receive a $50 SUBWAY® cash card.
We need your help to end bullying. Join SUBWAY® restaurants and the Detroit Tigers in Going to Bat for Respect. Visit
www.go2bat4respect.com for contest rules and details.
©2014 Doctor’s Associates Inc. SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor’s Associates Inc.
12 Fall 2014
Take the
Tigers Pledge
To Stop Bullying
To stop bullying in my school, I will
• Peacefully stand up for kids who are
being bullied.
• Tell an adult when I see bullying happen.
• Tell a trusted adult if I am bullied.
• Never fight back but calmly walk away
from bullies.
• Never bully others if I am bullied.
• Stop rumors and bullying on the Internet
• Let classmates know bullying is not cool.
Signed,
At the Tigers’ “Strike Out Bullying” program at Comerica
Park, students signed the sidewalk near the Tigers Pledge.
Michigan K.I.D.S. Says
THANK YOU
Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers Foundation,
an affiliate of Ilitch Charities
and these additional sponsors
For Supporting This Newspapers In Education Program.