Former Steeler to students: ‘Stand up’ to bullying
BURGETTSTOWN – As a kid, former Pittsburgh Steeler Robin Cole wasn’t a bully and he wasn’t bullied.
But he does have regrets about his actions.
“I had an opportunity. I wish I would have said something,” said Cole while speaking to Burgettstown Area Middle/High School students.
Cole, who helped the district launch their anti-bullying initiative Friday with a “Kickoff to Kindness” pep assembly, said during a 20-year class reunion, he felt compelled to apologize to a woman who had been bullied by a fellow classmate when they were students. After all this time, Cole said he wished he would have stood up for her.
“I still remembered that girl…I felt it in my gut,” he said. “I didn’t stand up, but you can stand up.”
Throughout the week, the district is participating in the Great Kindness Challenge, a proactive bullying prevention initiative that aims to improve the school climate and increase student engagement. The week is devoted to performing as many acts of kindness as possible on campus. Students are presented with a checklist of kind acts that they can complete for a chance to win a gift card.
Robin Cole shares a laugh with Burgettstown athletic director Robert Bennett after the assembly.
Every morning, students are being greeted by community groups as they enter the school. Police and fire department, cheerleaders, school staff and drum line members, and school board members, administrators and teachers will be stationed at the doors to encourage the students.
“The Great Kindness Challenge is one week devoted to performing as many acts of kindness as possible on our campus,” said teacher Jamie Smith. “It is our hope that this challenge will become a movement to make our schools, communities and world a kinder and more compassionate place for all.”
The district has held anti-bullying education for middle school students in the past, through the D.A.R.E. program and weekly discussions between students and teachers. But the decision was made to extend the initiative to the high school in order to support a culture of kindness, said Dean of Students Melissa Ferencuha.
More than 10 million students in 20,000 schools are expected to participate in the challenge.
A design created by student Aly Barley was selected to be printed on “Kindness Matters” T-shirts that students could purchase and wear, with proceeds going toward the D.A.R.E. program.
Robin Cole demonstrates the Oklahoma drill with student Jordan Whitley. Cole told his audience, “You can make a difference in bullying.”
On Friday, though, many donned black and gold to welcome Cole, whose appearance was sponsored by Billy Boy’s, a local business.
“We are all human beings trying to live together,” said Cole, a Washington County resident. “We have to have an understanding of each other.”
A Steeler for 11 years, Cole helped the team win the 1979 and 1980 Super Bowls. And, though some students admitted they had never heard of the Steel Curtain, Cole, now an entrepreneur and founder of the Robin Cole Foundation for prostate cancer awareness, imparted wisdom to his young audience.
There’s nothing cool about bullying, he said.
“If you need permission, I’m here to give it to you. Just stop. If you need permission to ignore it, you’ve got it, permission to ignore it and walk away,” said Cole. “The battle is not here. Let’s not do our friends that way. We don’t do that. Not here. We don’t put anybody down here.”