A teacher in New York was teaching her class about bullying and gave them the following exercise to perform. She had the children take a piece of paper and told them to crumple it up, stamp on it and really mess it up but do not rip it.
Then she had them unfold the paper, smooth it out and look at how scarred and dirty is was. She then told them to tell it they're sorry. Now even though they said .........they were sorry and tried to fix the paper, she pointed out all the scars they left behind. And that those scars will never go away no matter how hard they tried to fix it.
That is what happens when a child bully's another child, they may say they're sorry but the scars are there forever. The looks on the faces of the children in the classroom told her the message hit home.
That is the best approach I have heard of!
Yep, I'm 60 years old now and still wear the scars. Very good analogy.
What a great way to teach about the nasty subject of bullying. That is a visual that they won't soon forget.
:icon_thumright: very good
very good.my nephew took care of his bully after he warned him 3 times to lay off.needless to say the bullys nose was crumpled.has never bothered him again!!! ;D ;D
Good food for thought.
Bullying is an ugly, ugly crime. Too many beautiful childeren take their own lives because the pain is too much to bear.
I truly hope those young people understood the analogy the teacher was getting at.
QuoteBullying is an ugly, ugly crime. Too many beautiful childeren take their own lives because the pain is too much to bear.
I truly hope those young people understood the analogy the teacher was getting at.
I strongly agree!!!
That's a very cool way of illustrating how cruel bullying someone can be. I think I'll use that illustration in my own classroom. Thanks for sharing this with us.
An intelligent, creative way of illustrating an ugly reality.
I was the reciepient of Bullying all through school. The stuff these people talk about is a bunch of BS to me. Some of the tactics that kids are told to use to stop the bullying, will just make it worse. In this touchy feely world the only thing a bully will bow to is a good old fashioned butt kicking. Not a shooting or a stabbing, but an arse kicking. Things like uniforms and single sex classes wont help. THe popular kids know who is not popular. The cliques know who is in or out. It does not matter. You can explain to a bully how they make people feel, but the bully sees that and thinks it is fun. They truely see the power they have and can make it worse. To the parents of the bully (who either encourage the behavior or stick their head in the sand) they need a butt kicking too. Until the bullied stand up and are given an avenue to retaliate, bullies wont stop.
Quote from: aristico on November 02, 2011, 07:06:42 PM
Kids just need to toughen up.......Parents now a days just want to protect their babies instead of telling them how the real world works.......If I would have told my dad I was being bullied he would have told me to go punch the bully in the face and that would end the situation as I'm sure most of the parents of most of the members of this forum would have done. I'm sure some of you real country guys probably would have gotten smacked by your old man just for bringing it up. It's just an extension of the sissification,made up word I know, of our nation as I see it.
I like your approach alot better then the then stomping on a piece of paper, I look at that a politically correct garbage that was dreamed up by some liberal arts college professors that does not have a clue on how to function in the real world. Not surprise to see that it was taught in a New York school.
The crumbled piece of paper lesson will probably work for any intelligent, balanced person.
Unfortunately, there is always a knucklehead that gets his kicks by trying to show his dominance over others...was this way when I was growing up, and doubt it's changed. Sadly, the only thing a person like this really understands is a knuckle sandwich. I know it's not politically correct, but I've taught my kids to stand up for themselves if they're provoked (just don't throw the first punch).
Quote from: LaBiologist on November 02, 2011, 04:52:28 PM
I was the reciepient of Bullying all through school. The stuff these people talk about is a bunch of BS to me. Some of the tactics that kids are told to use to stop the bullying, will just make it worse. In this touchy feely world the only thing a bully will bow to is a good old fashioned butt kicking. Not a shooting or a stabbing, but an arse kicking. Things like uniforms and single sex classes wont help. THe popular kids know who is not popular. The cliques know who is in or out. It does not matter. You can explain to a bully how they make people feel, but the bully sees that and thinks it is fun. They truely see the power they have and can make it worse. To the parents of the bully (who either encourage the behavior or stick their head in the sand) they need a butt kicking too. Until the bullied stand up and are given an avenue to retaliate, bullies wont stop.
BUT kickin will fix most any bully. i found that out in the 7th grade
Although I understand the idea of trying to get a bully to realize the feelings of the other person, the illustration probably won't cause the lightbulb to come on in the bully's head. It may be a good illustration to show how the victim feels, but likely would be laughed off by the bully.
Bullies act as they do because they have been hurt or rejected in their own lives. Sometimes they act out because they have never been taught how to communicate their feelings and frustrations in any other way. This does NOT excuse their behavior. In my experience, the most effective way for a bully to learn not to bully is for them to be taken down a notch. Once that happens, then you can try the soft-hearted approach. You won't "talk" a bully into appropriate behavior in front of a group of others. He/she has to maintain the "alpha" status among their peers.
I was bullied verbally throughout school. I was only physically bullied a couple of times. Once, while in grade school, my brother picked the bully up by his belt and his shirt collar and threw him face first into a BIG mud puddle. He never bothered me again. The other time was in 10th grade. I was in JROTC and was wearing my Class B (semi-dress) uniform. A wirey kid took my uniform cap in the middle of a class. I told him to give it back and he ignored me and kept playing with the hat. I used a slang term that questioned his sexual orientation (not the best idea). Again, in the middle of class, he punched me square in the middle of my forehead. That hurt... A knot started to swell up almost immediately, but not before I stood to my feet and looked down at him straight in the eyes. I didn't have to say another word. He handed my hat back and didn't bother me again. Funny thing is that he joined JROTC the next year and was pleasant to me through the rest of high school.
I agree that this exercise or any other will have little or no effect on the bully. It might have an effect on the other kids so that they don't stand by and let some other kid be bullied. My grandson has been taught that he is not to just go along or ignore when he sees someone being bullied, and he has found himself in that situation. I also agree that standing up for ones self is the best remedy, but the sad fact is that some kids are not physically or emotionally able to do that very well.
WOW, couple bully's on the forum with us. :z-guntootsmiley:
It's an analogy folks..NOT a cure. If it hit home in just one out of a hundred kids, would it not be worth it?
Good example...
I was bullied from the time I was 5 or 6. At school and by neighbors. Being the smallest person in my grade through school didn't help any, but I know other kids that were pretty small that took up for thereself. That is the key. Bullies don't bully many people that take up for thereself no matter there size. I think a serious alcohol problem in the family was the biggest reason for poor social skills and not learning to be articulate. I was 35 years old before I learned how valuable a punch in the snout was. Too late, our life as a child molds us into what we are.