Comment on Take-A-Stand: Sullivan County Sheriff's Office camp shows students how to stop bullies

Groups of children sat in a circle, legs crossed, one whispering in the ear of another. Employees of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office sat with the kids or stood behind them. Giggles bubbled from their mouths as the whispering continued around the circle. Most of the kids and personnel wore white T-shirts, a half-faded stop sign with the words "Stop Bullying, It begins with you," emblazoned on the back.By the time the last child gets the whispered message in a game of telephone, the large sentence has been reduced to one word, "Pig." Not close to what the original message was, but proving a point none the less."This is how rumors get started," said Lisa Christian, Chief Deputy of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office.The group telephone exercise was one of the activities taught to 34 kids from around the region at Camp Take-A-Stand, a three day summer camp focusing on the issue of bullying.