Harlem Globetrotter Visits Elk Grove for Anti-Bullying Talks (Video)

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Local elementary school students started their week with a lesson in bullying prevention–and one in basketball tricks.

Slick Willie Shaw, a member of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team, spoke to students at Isabelle Jackson and Irene B. West elementary schools Monday morning.

He told students about the "ABCs" of bullying prevention: Action, Bravery and Compassion.

"We can keep bullying out of our schools and out of our communities with those three words," he told an assembly at Isabelle Jackson Monday morning.

Shaw asked students for their ideas on ways to stop bullying: telling a teacher when they see it happening; reporting a fight instead of egging it on; watching for signs of bullying; and inviting lone kids to eat lunch with their group of friends. He then invited the students who answered–and teacher Steve Martinez–to the front of the assembly to learn some basketball tricks.

See those tricks in the video at the right of this article.

Principal Martin Fine said the school has seen results from reinforcing positive behavior, and discouraging bullying.

"We talk about it constantly," Fine said.

While Fine said the school has seen decreases in suspensions and referrals, he acknowledged it still has work to do.

"A lot of things go unreported, which makes it difficult."

What should schools in Elk Grove do to prevent bullying? Is it a problem here? Leave your thoughts as a comment below.

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