Be bully-proof

Make yourself put-down proof. Know some crazy comebacks. Go to your "safe place." Breathe deeply. Take a stance by being assertive, not aggressive.

Those are just some of the techniques kids at Fox Hills Middle School learn to bully-proof themselves.

Counselor Karen Blazosky says the Harrison District 2 school is teaching students anger management, conflict resolution, problem solving, stress busting and optimism skills to help create a "caring, supportive and encouraging classroom." Those techniques are coupled with another program that helps students develop critical cognitive, social and self-management skills.

Two Fox Hills students, Keenan Wright,11, and Damien Kacandy, 12, agreed to share what they've learned about bullying:
1.What is the worst bullying that has happened to you. What did you do?
Keenan: Someone called me names and used bad words. I tried to talk to them, please stop, it makes me feel bad. If you don't I may have to report you. The person stopped. They said it was a joke, but it wasn't.
Damien: Someone started rumors. So I told them I didn't like it. He stopped.

2. What's the worst bullying you have seen?
Keenan: I've seen a kid punch someone, and hit them with water balloons. I said stop, it's not funny. I was going to report it, but someone else did.
Damien: I saw a fist fight. Someone told a teacher.

3. Is it easy to tell an adult when bullying takes place?
Keenan: Yes. Sometimes people call you snitch. But I just know I am doing something right and it is helping someone out.
Damien: When I tell a teacher, sometimes the guy says he'll beat me up. But I feel good that I helped them anyway. And they don't do it.

4. Have you every bullied anyone?
Keenan: No. It's not fair to them. Then I would be as bad as a bully.
Damien: No I haven't. If my friend picks on someone I don't think it is funny.

5. So what do you do when you get angry?
Keenan: I do deep breaths. I imagine a picture, my safe place. It's a room with ventriloquist dummies, which I think are fun. After I cool down, I wonder if I had an assertive mind or an aggressive one. I do that if I am worried about a test, too.
Damien: I think of a safe place. Its a setting of Super Mario Brothers, a field with sky. I breathe deeply and calm down. After, I kind of like to talk to the person who made me angry and it helps. I use an "I" word. I say "I felt angry about what you did, so stop."

6. What crazy comebacks have you used?
Keenan: If a person says they think my shirt is stupid or something. I say I don't like it either.
Damien: If they call me weird or something, I say thank you for noticing. It's my best feature.

7. Anything else important that you have learned?
Keenan: Brain gym. You get loose and crazy and do exercises. It helps you relax and helps your brain.
Damien: I learned that walking away from a fight is braver than fighting. And you don't get hurt.