The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, December 7, 2011 · 2 Upstanders d It's a bigger problem than you think Continued from page 1 ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER AGAINST BULLYING: Post's Corners Public School's Safe Schools Action Team recently wrapped up Bully Prevention Week with an assembly in which the entire student body danced to the song, Firework. The motto was Be the Change...Be an Upstander, someone who stands up to a bully or helps a victim. If one person does this others will follow. , The proposed bill also stated such an inclusive environment is essential for student success. With several recently-publicized suicides in Ontario pointing to bullying as their underlying cause, Flynn agreed the act is needed. "This act is something that came out of the Ministry of Education, but I think a number of us (MPPs) have been bringing forward information to the Minister and the Premier saying, `This has to stop, this has to end," said Flynn. "There are just too many kids who are suffering and we needed to bring forward an initiative. With some of the kids who had committed suicide there was evidence that a lot of the teasing, bullying and discrimination had taken place in the school setting where they spent most of their time. We can do what we can as parents and we can do what we can as a society, but I think if you are going to be serious about this, you've got to introduce (legislation) to the schools where the kids are spending the most time." Not everyone is happy about the proposed bill. The group Campaign Life Catholics issued a press release Monday stating that while it opposes bullying it is against Bill 13, which it says has nothing to do with preventing bullying and everything to do with undermining the Catholic school system. "It is about forcing Catholic schools to accept curriculum, which undermines Catholic morality on sexuality and marriage," says the release. "It is about using the classroom as a vehicle to indoctrinate children into embracing a new sexual revolution, pushed by the activist-groups to whom Dalton McGuinty is beholden." The group also voiced concerns about the bill allowing Gay-Straight Alliance clubs within Ontario's Catholic schools and said these groups are known throughout the U.S. for "agitating against Christian teachings." Flynn, who meets regularly with local high school students through his Youth Advisory Committee, said the bill is about curbing bullying, which is a bigger problem in Oakville schools than many people think. "It is something that goes on -- on a fairly regular basis," he said. "In the past, I think people have been afraid to stand up to the bully themselves and they are kind of looking for the system to clamp down on this and say, `This will not be tolerated.'" Flynn said being bullied is something many students silently carry with them, unwilling to talk about it with their parents or teachers out of fear of making the situation worse and being ridiculed. The act, he said, not only gives schools the power to make this stop, but gives support to other students who want to hold seminars, start groups or make movies emphasizing tolerance and mutual respect. As bullying can and has led to depression and suicide, Flynn said the act is a key response to the province's growing mental health issues. "I'm really happy to see this (act) because of the work I have done on children's mental health in the past and a lot of this ties into the Mental Health Strategy that I have been asking for. As chair of the select committee on mental health and addictions, I think we brought forward a good report," said Flynn. "The government promised to act on it and promised to allocate about a third of a billion dollars towards it over three years...it is great to see that money starting to be put to good use in this way." Brands: Malo, Giampaolo, Sartorio, Ralph Lauren, Herno, Tombolini, Dalmine, Jacob Cohen, Borrelli, Valentini, Svevo, Doriani Handmade Shoes: Bontoni, Bettanin & Venturi, Santoni, Zilli Now Open 190 Lakeshore East (Downtown Oakville) 905-815-8444