Bullying

I am upset when I read so much about the way people, especially young people, are bullying each other.  It becomes very vicious, demeaning and cruel.  When I was a kid, I guess there must have been some of this going on, but I don't remember it.  The worst thing I can remember is that a girl in my class, probably 4th or 5th grade lived on a pig farm.  When she came to school, she smelled so bad none of the kids would get close to her.  I don't think anyone ever said anything about it to her, but just being avoided must have hurt her feelings.

Kelly Ripa remarked the other day that at her son's school, the teacher gave each student a nice, clean sheet of white paper. (these were small kids).  She told them they could do anything they wanted to do to the paper.  Some crushed it up, others tore their's, or walked on it, etc.  After a minute or so she asked them to smooth out the paper an make it all neat again.  Of course, they couldn't make it perfect again and the teacher said:  "This paper is like people.  It you builly them, say something mean to them, etc. they will never be the same.  You have hurt that person and he will always be hurt and can't be put back the way he was before you were cruel to him.

I thought that was a great idea.  Kids need to learn at an early age that it is wrong to bully people or say unkind things to them.  I think this would be a great idea for teachers and also parents to use as one little step in educating children to be kind.

Until next time
Be kind to oneanother