There's an epidemic in our schools that accounts for over 160,000 absent students nationwide every day, according to the National Education Association. What is surprising is that none of these students are missing school because of an illness. The condition keeping these students away is the fear of attack or intimidation brought on by bullying. The US army has developed a free anti-bullying program that will address ways to stop bullying before it starts and identify strategies students and school staff can do to make schools and communities safer and prevent bullying. Included in this workshop will be a sample of an Anti-Bullying Pledge where students agree to demonstrate leadership by not participating in bullying activities, show respect to all their peers and refuse to engage in verbal, physical and cyber bullying.