This week in our self defense class we are working on the question,
“What would you do if… You see someone being bullied?
There are many ways that you could react – but the real question is what do you have the courage to do?
- Do you have the courage to avoid joining in with the name calling or laughing at the target of the aggressive behavior? Or is it easier and feel safer to be a part of the crowd?
- Do you have the courage to report to an adult? Or are you afraid of being called a snitch?
- Do you have the courage to tell the bully to STOP! Or are you afraid of being turned on and becoming the target?
- Do you have the courage to request your friends to stand up to the aggressor? Or are you afraid of being made fun of not going along with the group?
- Do you have the courage to support and befriend the target or victim of the bullying? Or are you afraid of losing other friends?
All of these actions require different levels of courage. All of the parent’s or teacher’s we must remember that, all of these actions are doable if there is a culture in the classroom and school or in the family and community that requires kindness be shown to each other.
Balanced Life Skills is teaching our students to say:
“STOP! In our school we do not treat each other like that!”
We could also say, “In our family” or “in our community”, or “on our team we do not……”
The practice of kindness, the recognition of the value of each other is what respect is built on. Respect is the ability to see and celebrate the VALUE in ourselves and others and behave accordingly. We should not be demanding “behaviors” if we are not also helping all in our community and families to see and celebrate the value of all people.