Chrisman Students Bring Powerful Anti-Bullying Program to ISD Elementary Schools

With hundreds of wide-eyed elementary school students watching their every move, a small group of William Chrisman High School students travel across the district delivering an important message – stop bullying! Using songs, stories and skits, about 20 Chrisman students are members of the ‘ENUF Stop Bullying’ troupe, created to teach elementary students what bullying is and how to handle it properly.

“For me, ‘ENUF Stop Bullying’ is all about spreading positivity and teaching kids it’s not right to bully,” said Jose Mendoza, Chrisman sophomore and one of the performers. “I want them to embrace our differences and accept them and become friends, not enemies, because of those differences.”

Created in 2005, the ‘ENUF Stop Bullying’ group has performed for more than 16,000 elementary and middle school students in the ISD and other school districts and civic organizations across the Kansas City area. New skits and vignettes are frequently added, but one cast member said it is the message in the music that really sticks with the kids.

“I remember when I was in elementary school and I still remember the songs,” said Jessica Lorenz, a junior at Chrisman and one of the performers. “It really does make a difference when you hear them and sing them, you remember the lyrics and you remember the message.”

Moments before a recent all-school performance at Fairmount Elementary, Lorenz reflected on the message ‘ENUF Stop Bullying’ sends and its importance.

“What we do allows the kids to process bullying in a gentler way and shows them the way to stop it,” she said.