"Makes me feel happy:" Benjamin Franklin School students find friendship through 'Buddy Benches'

Benjamin Franklin School students find friendship through `Buddy Benches`

MILWAUKEE -- It's a nationwide effort to foster friendships among school students using benches to create buddies. Milwaukee Public Schools is encouraging kids to take a seat on the "Buddy Bench."

Buddy Bench

"I just sit on this bench, wait for someone to go over here. I'll talk to them, help them out, find a friend," said Emounty Pitts. Benjamin Franklin School fourth grader.

Friday, May 27th Benjamin Franklin School was among the first Milwaukee Public Schools to feature what are known as "buddy benches."

Buddy Bench

"It's designed to be a place for students to come who maybe are feeling lonely, or feeling shy -- who aren't quite sure how to interact with their peers. This is a place for those students to come to say, 'Maybe I need a little help interacting?'" said Katherine Perhach, Quarles & Brady, LLP.

Katherine Perhach

The spots to sit are part of a nationwide effort to battle bullying proactively by offering a place for students to sit together and hopefully become buddies.

"When I sit on a Buddy Bench it makes me feel happy," said Precious Walker, Benjamin Franklin School seventh grader.

"It's actually fun to meet new friends and have fun and talk," said Larry Dorsey, Benjamin Franklin School fifth grader.

Some of those who work in schools say having an area designated specifically for fostering friendships will help underscore the importance of making constructive connections between students.

Buddy Bench

"It's definitely been a positive component that's been added to our school," said Benjamin Franklin School Principal Katrina Fisher.

The two Buddy Benches were donated by the law firm Quarles & Brady, LLP, through a partnership with Benjamin Franklin School.