Harlem Globetrotter visits Tulsa school, talks to kids about bullying
BY NOUR HABIB World Scene Writer
Friday, February 01, 2013
2/01/13 at 5:11 AM
Laughs, claps and cheers filled the auditorium at Eugene Field Elementary on Thursday afternoon as students played games, watched tricks and listened to one of the Harlem Globetrotters talk about bullying prevention.
Herbert "Flight Time" Lang was at the school to promote his team's upcoming appearance at the BOK Center and to present their new community outreach program, "The ABCs of Bullying Prevention."
The team visits hundreds of schools every year. They launched their anti-bullying initiative after hearing kids recount bullying experiences during an event hosted by the National Campaign to End Violence.
"It really caught our attention," Lang said.
Now, their school visits include a segment on the ABCs of bullying prevention - action, bravery and compassion.
Eugene Field was chosen for the Globetrotters' Tulsa visit because of a prize-winning essay written by one of its fifth-graders, Tevin Nguyen.
Tevin said it was exciting to be the reason that Lang visited the school. He and his family were given free tickets to the Feb. 8 Harlem Globetrotter event at the BOK Center.
"I'm so proud of him," said his mom, Nina Nguyen, who attended the school event. "He's a good kid."
Tevin was one of several students who Lang chose to help him out during the "Magic Circle" portion of his presentation. Lang taught his volunteers several of the team's trick basketball passes, which they performed to much cheering from the audience.
Before the games and tricks, Lang talked to the students about ways they can prevent bullying - like taking action by telling an adult, being brave and asking friends to stop talking negatively about a classmate, or being kind to people who don't have friends.
Lang's jokes and easygoing manner held the kids' attention until the end of the program, at which point one of the girls asked him if he was married. He's not.
Before the program, Mayor Dewey Bartlett read a proclamation declaring Jan. 31, 2013, "Bullying Prevention Day."
Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Keith Ballard also spoke before the program, telling students that their smiles and the kindness teachers showed to him made his day better.
"You have the power to make someone feel really good," he said.
HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS
Where: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver
When: 7 p.m. Feb. 8
Tickets: $21-$112, available at tulsaworld.com/bok or 866-726-5287.
Original Print Headline: Playing nice
Nour Habib 918-581-8369
nour.habib@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Harlem Globetrotter Herb "Flight Time" Lang visited Eugene Field Elementary School on Thursday to present the Globetrotters' new community outreach program, "The ABCs of Bullying Prevention." MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World
Harlem Globetrotter Herb "Flight Time" Lang mugs for cameras as he helps student Tevin Nguyen spin a ball during an anti-bullying program at Eugene Field Elementary School on Thursday. Nguyen won a magazine writing contest, which brought Lang to the school. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World
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