Bullying has evolved from pushing and shoving on the playground to harassment in the cafeteria and on the Internet.

Seventh to ninth graders in Dowagiac, Cass and Marcellus schools got an in-depth lesson on bullying today sponsored by Midwest Energy.

Today’s program, “Rachel’s Challenge,” involved a 90-minute session for over 900 students to learn about the five pillars to conquering bullying in-person and online without fighting back.

“It's less about the behavior of bullying and more about what can I do as an individual to make that person next to me feel better, validated and like they are a contributor to this classroom, this cafeteria, this school 01:17:13 so bullying is going to happen and that's something we as parents, educators, have to deal with but at the same time we can work to create a culture that is a culture stronger than anything bullying can do,” says Patty Nowlin of Midwest Energy Cooperative.

“Rachel’s Challenge” was started by the parents of Rachel Joy Scott, the victim of the Columbine High School shooting.