What is Bullying?
Which is it?
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
“My Walk to School” by Andrea Wilson
Fist punch. Foot crunch. Hand hit. Mouth spit. Eye swells. Can’t see. Please, Please, Let me be. Rips my homework. Steals my money. Grabs my lunch. Thinks it’s funny Sticks and stones may break my bones… Sissy Prissy Four-eyes Geek Fatso Stupid Nerdy Freak …but names can really hurt. Through the doors. Up the stairs. Face is bloody. No one cares. In the washroom. Clean up the mess. I’ll be safe Until … recess… |
"Making Sarah Cry"by Cheryl L. Costello-Forshey
from Chicken Soup for the Teen's Soul II He stood among his friends from school. He joined their childhood games Laughing as they played kickball And when they called poor Sarah names. Sarah was unlike the rest; She was slow and not as smart, And it would seem to all his friends She was born without a heart. And so he gladly joined their fun Of making Sarah cry. But something deep within his heart, He never knew just why. For he could hear his mother's voice, Her lesson of right and wrong Playing over and over inside his head Just like a favorite song. "Treat others with respect, son, The way you'd want them treating you. And remember, when you hurt others, Someday, someone might hurt you." He knows his mother wouldn't understand The funny faces that she made The purpose of the game Of teasing Sarah, who made them laugh As her tears fell like rain. The funny faces that she made And the way she'd stomp her feet Whenever they mocked the way she walked Or the stutter when she'd speak. To him she must deserve it Because she never tried to hide. And if she really wanted to be left alone, Then she should stay inside. But everyday she'd do the same: She'd come outside to play, And stand there, tears upon her face, Too upset to run away. The game would soon be over. As tears dropped from her eyes, For the purpose of their fun Was making Sarah cry. It was nearly two whole months He hadn't seen his friends. He was certain they all must wonder What happened and where he'd been. So he felt a little nervous As he limped his way to class. He hoped no one would notice, He prayed no one would ask. About that awful day: The day his bike met with a car, Leaving him with a dreadful limp And a jagged - looking scar. So he held his breath a little As he hobbled into the room, Where inside he saw a 'Welcome back' banner And lots of red balloons. He felt a smile cross his face As his friends all smiled, too And he couldn't wait to play outside- His favorite thing to do. So the second that he stepped outdoors And saw his friends all waiting there, He expected a few pats on the back- Instead, they all stood back and stared. He felt his face grow hotter As he limped to join their side To play a game of kickball And of making Sarah cry. An awkward smile crossed his face When he heard somebody laugh And heard the words,"Hey freak, Where'd you get that ugly mask?" He turned expecting Sarah, But Sarah could not be seen. It was the scar upon his face That cause such words so mean. He joined in their growing laughter, Trying hard to not give in To the awful urge inside to cry Or the quivering of his chin. They are only teasing He made himself believe. They are still my friends; They'd never think of hurting me. But the cruel remarks continued About the scar and then his limp. And he knew if he shed a single tear They'd label him a wimp. And so the hurtful words went on, And in his heart he wondered why. But he knows without a doubt The game would never end, Until they made him cry. And just when a tear had formed, He heard a voice speak out from behind. "Leave him alone you bullies, Because he's a friend of mine." He turned to see poor Sarah, Determination on her face, Sticking up for one of her own tormentors And willing to take his place. And when his friends did just that, Trying their best to make poor Sarah cry, This time he didn't join in, And at least understood exactly why. "Treat others with respect, son, The way you'd want them treating you. And remember, when you hurt others, Someday, someone might hurt you." It took a lot of courage But he knew he must be strong, For at last he saw the difference Between what's right and wrong. And Sarah didn't seem so weird. Through his understanding eyes. Now he knew he'd never play again The game of making Sarah cry. It took several days of teasing And razzing from his friends, But when they saw his strength, They chose to be like him. And now out on the playground, A group of kids meet every day For a game of kickball and laughter And teaching their new friend, Sarah, how to play |