During a group task today, in which the students were to work with their elbow partner to arrange strips of paper which had sentences written on them into a paragraph by adding transition words, an incident occurred. One of the groups had three students in it as opposed to the regular three, one of whom has had reputation that has followed them for the last three years, and is not positive. Well, this student, after having several interactions with them, and as to the request of their peers, now sits alone and has to move into a group. This has worked out well so far, until today when they felt it was appropriate to call the other students in the group names, use very foul language, and to top it all off bully and threaten the students.
Sadly, I was circulating with other groups when this was happening, and was unaware of what was happening until I saw one of the students in the corner talking to their friend who was in another group. When I went over to see what was happening, the student from the group with three members was in tears. I asked what was happening and the student could not even talk to me through the tears. It was really hard to not just hug them. Anyway, they went to the restroom, at which point I questioned the other student who was in the corner, the other student from the group of three, the student who was crying, and finally the student who was at the center of the conflict. By being Mr. T, the teacher-detective, I was able to figure out what was happening. It was also revealed to me that this bullying that was occurring is residual from last year, and when the student told me that they began to cry again. Once again, it took a lot not hug them.
This resulted in me stopping the class fifteen minutes early. I told the class how I was bullied through middle school and into high school. I told them how it was not just names, but how I was whipped with belts, put in headlocks and thrown to the ground, punched in the arm repeatedly till I could not move it, how my locker was kicked in everyday, having to let people cheat off of me in high school, and other stuff that is sadly common when it comes to being bullied.I told them how words have a far more devastating affect than they know at this point in their lives, and had them acknowledge how particular words are used to degrade a particular group or race of people. Then, I had them all put their heads down and asked them several questions:
Raise your hand if you have been bullied before. All hands went up.
Raise your hand if you have been bullied this year. Most hands went up.
Raise your hand if you know someone who has been bullied this year. All hands went up.
Raise your hand if your stepped in and became an ally to stop it. Only a couple hands went up.
Raise you hand if you have taken action in some way shape or form to stop bullying from continuing, either to yourself or a friend. Only a couple hands went up.
Raise your hand if you know a bully. All hands went up.
Raise your hand if you are a bully. No hands went up (not that I thought any hands would go up).
Raise your hand if you feel safe in this classroom. All hands went up.
Raise your hand if you know I am here for you if you ever need me. All hands went up.
After this I talked again about the differences of being a bully, ally, and a bystander. I even talked about classroom and school rules again. Then, I told them how if they see bullying occurring they need to step up and do something, be an ally, and contact an adult or take a stand for their friend or even a student they may not know. Next, I reiterated my absolute zero tolerance policy on bullying and how it is the same as the school. Lastly, I told them that while a bully may see some of the physical damage they may inflict upon someone, they rarely see the emotional damage they are causing. So, I had them watch this video.When it ended, many students were crying, and I just told them to think next time they want to poke fun, jokingly or not, at another student and to have a good lunch. They left the room in complete silence and returned in silence after lunch.
prguitarman
pixelskylines
turnnoffyourmind
gummygunk
yousharknotpass
