Today, 160,000 kids stayed home from school. Not because they were sick or forgot to do their homework, but because they were afraid of being harassed by a bully. One in every four kids get bullied, which adds up to 13 million kids a year. We began today’s show with 16-year-old Whitney Kropp, a Michigan teen nominated to her homecoming court only to find out it was a cruel hoax.
“I wonder… why did these people actually do this to me.” –Whitney Kropp
@lindsaylohan
@katiecouric I think what you did today on your show for #WhitneyKropp was lovely. It had me crying. I’d love to meet her. #stopbullying
— Lindsay Lohan (@lindsaylohan) October 2, 2012
But this turned into a true Cinderella story. After hearing Whitney’s story, her town rallied behind her to make her the belle of the ball. Whitney ended up going to the homecoming dance and being a part of the homecoming court.
“It was…overwhelming.” –Whitney Kropp
@joyfc
@katieshow I’d like to think I would have done as she did, but I don’t know that I was at all that brave at her age. #StrongGirlsRock
— Joy Frank-Collins (@joyfc) October 2, 2012
Next, we met Katie Uffens, a 16-year-old from California who feared for her life after hearing rumors that a group of students at her school had formed the KKK, the “Kill Katie Klub.”
“Nobody on this world deserves to be hated.” –Katie Uffens
@ImDanielleGray
Dear @whitneykropp & Katie I seen u on the @katieshow & I was bullied badly like u at ur ages & I wanna say ‘Stay True 2 U’ Ur Amazing! Xo
— Danielle Gray(@ImDanielleGray) October 2, 2012
A child is bullied every seven minutes. How do you know if your child is being bullied or if your child is a bully? Would you recognize the signs and what steps should you take? Child and adolescent psychologist Dr. Jennifer Hartstein weighs in.
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