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Staff writer

Seventh-graders chuckled and laughed, they shrieked and squirmed, they sighed, they groaned, they wept.

Emotions erupted in response to a powerful anti-bullying message delivered by Mark Brown, World Champion Toastmasters public speaker, when he visited District 11 middle schools Nov. 18 and 19.

Brown, determined to show students the power of their words and actions, addressed each of the district’s more than 3,000 seventh-graders when he presented his message.

Speaking to seventh-graders gathered in the schools’ auditoriums, Brown used the Disney movie, “Beauty and the Beast,” to illustrate how people tend to disrespect and put down those who are different than themselves or those who are not understood.

“When people ignore or ostracize someone just because he looks different, sounds different, dresses different, they get hurt,” Brown said as he prepared to take center stage before an audience of some 500 Sandburg and Fred Moore middle schools’ seventh-graders gathered at Fred Moore Nov. 18.

The coupling of the two schools’ seventh-graders for the presentation seemed a perfect fit since this year’s Sandburg Middle School seventh-graders will become Fred Moore Middle School eighth-graders at the start of the 2010-2011 school year.

“What’s better than one great school? Two great schools together,” said Fred Moore Middle School Principal Kathy Baufield before Brown took the stage.

And then Brown, determined to show students how to abandon disrespect and make their schools places of peace and unconditional love and acceptance, employed his booming voice, his charismatic passion and his contagious energy to spread the anti-bullying word.

Bullying became Brown’s life experience when, as a sixth-grader, he was teased and taunted by a trio of classmates.

“I know what it feels like to be picked on, to be called a ‘freak,’ a ‘dummy,’ a ‘weirdo.’ I know because I’ve been there,” Brown told the assembled students after recounting his bullied childhood.

“Thirty-seven years later, I still remember what that felt like. I still remember their names,” he said and then asked those who knew what it felt like to be bullied to stand up.

While they remained standing, Brown addressed the other students.

“Now, I know there are people in this room who have caused that feeling. If that’s you, stand up,” Brown said.

His eyes on the hundreds of standing students, Brown urged them to consider the lasting effects of bullying words and actions.

“Now, I want you to think about this: how will your classmates feel – deep down in their hearts – when they hear your name 37 years from now,” Brown said.

“Think about how you treat people and think about what you give to them with your words, your actions, your behavior. Think about how you want them to remember you.”

Brown then recited some words, intended to direct students’ thoughts about the power of their words.

First the words of King Solomon, “Telling lies about friends is like attacking them with clubs and swords and sharp arrows.”

“Those clubs, those swords, those arrows – those are your words, your attitudes, your actions,” Brown said. “Watch how you use them.”

He then directed the students’ attention to the words of Mother Teresa.

“This is what Mother Teresa said, ‘Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.’  Better and happier,” Brown said, repeating her words.

“Kids’ hearts are at stake here. Don’t be saying, ‘Oh, they know I’m kidding. They know I don’t mean it.’ Underneath the plastic smile, there are hearts breaking every night,” he said.

“You want them to leave better and happier. You don’t want to break them.”

Brown then urged victims of bullying to talk to a trusted adult and ask for help.

“Understand this: you do not deserve to be treated this way. No one deserves to be treated this way,” he said.

In closing, Brown reminded the students of the power of their words and actions.

“You all have someone – a little brother or sister, a cousin, a neighbor kid – someone who wants to be like you,” he said.

“Be like Belle (the ‘beauty’ in ‘Beauty and the Beast’). Bring out the prince, find the prince, uncover the prince-ness inside the beast, the one who is bullied. Talk to that person. Apologize. Make it right. Say ‘no’ when friends want to bully. Be like Belle.”

Sandburg Middle School Principal Tom Hagerty praised Brown’s message to the students and said he wants his students to feel welcome when they arrive as Fred Moore students next year.

“I want their anxiety reduced. I want them to learn they have to be there for each other. It’s all part of the transition,” Hagerty said.

“Mark Brown’s message today is very timely.”

And Brown agreed, saying he hoped to encourage students to “do what they can to make their school a better place, a nicer place. A place of safety and acceptance.”

Brown travels the country with his anti-bullying message, which he delivers as motivational speaker for QSP/Time, Inc.

Thanks to Jackson Middle School’s involvement in the company’s school magazine fund-raiser program, Brown’s fees were waived for his visits to District 11 middle schools.

Local sponsors include Anoka-Hennepin Community Education, the Anoka-Hennepin Education Foundation, Connexus Energy and First Student Transportation.

Sue Austreng is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it