School visits
› Tyner Middle Academy: Sept. 12 at 8:55 a.m.› Hunter Middle School: Sept. 12 at 11:30 a.m.› Hixson Middle School: Sept. 13 at 9 a.m.› Chattanooga Center for the Creative Arts: Sept. 13 at 2 p.m.› Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts: Sept. 14 at 10 a.m.› Sale Creek Middle/High School: Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.› Soddy Daisy Middle School: Sept. 15 at 1 p.m.› Ooltewah Middle School: Sept. 16 at 9 a.m.› Brown Middle School: Sept. 16 at 12 p.m.Source: Chattanooga Bar Association
Author and country music singer Billy Dawson will be bringing his anti-bullying message to nine middle schools in Hamilton County later this month.
Dawson is the author of "You Never Know," which is the first of what he hopes to be a series of children's books focusing on bullying, racism and other societal issues facing children.
After reading the book, Lynda Minks Hood, executive director of the Chattanooga Bar Association, said she began to think about how great it would be to have Dawson speak to Hamilton County Schools students, as bullying is such a prevalent issue both here and nationally.
"It's amazing how someone bullying you can affect you for the rest of your life," Hood said. "Let's talk about it and see what we can do to get people to stop."
Six out of 10 teenagers nationally say they witness bullying every day, and about 71 percent of students report bullying as an ongoing problem, according to statistics from the National Education Association.
During Dawson's visit, which is being coordinated by the bar association, he plans to share his thoughts about the effects of bullying, perform some of his songs and hang out with students during lunch.
"He is also eager to talk one-on-one with students about his personal experience being bullied," Hood said.
At Brown Middle School, students are expected to treat each other with respect and get along with everybody, regardless of differences, principal Rashaad Williams said.
Dawson will be at Brown Middle School on Sept. 16, and Williams said his students will be excited to host a recording artist.
"Anyone that can help us reiterate the message of getting along with each other and being better students and better citizens is welcome," Williams said.