Daily Note
Every day, a photograph, a poem.
What is one of the riskiest or bravest things you’ve ever done?
Accompanying Scott to a conference in Olympia, we searched downtown for a shoe store because Scott forgot his dress shoes.
While Scott shopped, I looked out the window, watching the passersby on the street.
I noticed two gangster-dressed / attitude boys walking with another boy walking his bike. I could tell by their faces and actions while walking that they were bullying the boy, who was down’s syndrome.
Teaching middle school with a few tough kids in my classroom, I know how scary it is to intervene. I’ve stepped right in the middle of a fist fight and was hit by one fist, but lightly. The thing about the kids I taught is, that, though with the “rough crowd,” they were also not really wanting to get in trouble, especially at school. So immediately, the “hitter” was so apologetic and the other boy calmed down. That was the end of that. And relationships are everything to build a learning classroom. And that might be the day I demanded to have a phone in my portable.
Anyway, I had to assess the moment and the boys, but I could not let that kid be bullied.
So I put on my teacher self, stood up straight, and walked around to the door, turning the corner towards the walking boys. I walked up to the downs boy and just started talking to him, walking with him, and not paying much attention to the other boys, just maintaining that teacher attitude, nodding at them non threateningly, but firm while keeping my attention on the bullied boy.
It seemed like a long few minutes, but by the time we waited for the light at the corner, the two boys had walked off. I watched the boy, now freed from his harassers, continue on his way. I kept watching until I knew the other boys had gone on their merry, swaggering way.
You don’t know you’re scared, until it’s over. You just do what’s right.
How do you know what to do?
- StopBullying.gov: Anti Bullying Interventions
- StopBullying.gov: Middle School — go to “What to do if you witness bullying?”
- BulliesOut: Helping Someone Else
Poetry
Always a Choice
Each moment, a choice—
Sheri Edwards
For these moments, I choose—
For those alone, speak up;
For those in need, step up;
For those in hurt, be kind;
For those deceived, listen;
For those privileged, accept;
Each moment, a choice—
What do you choose?
04.24.24 115.365.24
Poetry/Photography
#smallpoems #clmooc #poetry24 #poetry #napowrimo #napowrimo24 #bekind
I wonder, if I draw a line... 