As part of the Harlem Globetrotter's mandate to spread positivity, kids at KVR Middle School in Penticton learned about the ABC's.
That is, action, bravery and compassion. Harlem Globetrotter Dizzy Grant toured schools on Thursday to bring awareness to the anti-bullying movement.
"I think it helps because he is a popular person, so if he is saying it everyone will want to do it," Russell Grandbois, a grade six student at KVR.
Grant told kids they should take action if they are being bullied and it is important to tell a teacher or adult. For the second component, bravery, Grant told the kids his own personal story.
"When I was in second grade I was being picked on in school. It bothered me and I came home crying and the thing I told my mother that bothered my the most was that all my friends sat around and watched me get picked on. I needed someone to be brave for me and stand up for me," said Grant. "If you ever see someone getting picked on you want to be brave for that person because maybe they can't be brave."
The third lesson was about compassion, he said sometimes a person doing the bullying might not even know they are doing it.
"You need to put yourself in someone else's shoes and ask yourself how does that feel," said Grant.
While the tool's the kids can use on a daily basis to reduce bullying seemed to make an impact with the enthusiastic students, the Harlem Globetrotters magic circle seemed to really win them over. Students and one of their teachers learned the signature Globetrotters tricks to the tune of Sweet Georgia Brown.
The Harlem Globetrotters will be playing at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton on Feb. 12. For more info on tickets visit here.