Argos Cheer Coach Takes Anti-bullying Message to the Girls
By Jonathon Brodie
Toronto Sun
Jorie Brown is putting the pompoms down so she can teach kids about bullying, self respect, and individualism.
The Toronto Argonauts cheerleading coach was at Greensborough Public School to speak with 71 female students about bullying.
“Bullying happens to everyone,” said the Argos’ chief of cheering. “You might not think it’s a regular occurrence but whether you’re in school, outside in teams, or even a cheerleading team, bullying happens all around.”
Teamed up with Erin Schneider, the Argos’ coordinator of communications, Brown got the message across to students using personal stories.
“By the end of the assembly…we had to say, ‘Okay, we have a enough stories right now,’” Brown said. “They were non-stop opening up and sharing their stories which was really nice.”
Toronto’s mini football squad came to the school as part of the Argonauts Huddle Up Bully Prevention Program that sends players and cheerleaders to schools to encourage friendship and inclusion.
“Most people think of bullying as physical but with girls it tends to be not physical at all,” said Brown. “It’s all mental games, jealousy, and those kind of topics.
“It’s nice to have a female come in to talk to them. Someone they can relate a little bit more, too.”
The assembly ended with Brown showing the girls an Argo cheer, followed by a mob around the cheerleader seeking autographs and pictures.
“A girl talking can kind of make you feel more comfortable about an issue,” said Grade 8 student June Lee, who helped bring the Huddle Up program to her school.
Bullying between girls can be bad because it affects the victims emotionally, she said.
The message of mutual respect among girls is the most important thing, although the students enthusiasm was nice, said Schneider.
“I think they recognized that a difference needs to be made, and if they’re telling one person that means what we did today had an impact,” Schneider said.
