Dowell Elementary School Principal Mrs. Jennifer L. Young issued the following letter to parents of fifth-grade students today after investigating a bullying “game”, which has affected many fifth-grade students this year.
As much as we would like to think it does not happen, bullying is something most children encounter in one form or another. We also know that is our responsibility to teach our children how to get along, how to be considerate people, and how to be part of a community or group.
All children struggle with being called names, being picked on, being excluded, not knowing how to make friends, or being the ones acting unkindly or aggressively toward others, and all forms of bullying are hurtful. When we become aware of events or instances of bullying and harassment occurring we must first take action to end the behavior and then take the opportunities to teach our children how to recognize it, how to avoid it or get help, and the implications of being a silent observer.
This week we became aware of a bullying situation portrayed as a ‘game’ that our students have been playing for quite some time. As part of our investigation we asked students to do a written statement and personally interviewed many of them. What we discovered was that almost all of our students knew about this activity, and what participating in the game meant. What complicates the matter is that most of our fifth graders participated, on some level, at some point.
A major aspect of bullying and harassment is how it makes a person feel. A reflection of these feelings is captured in quotes from our students’ written statements.
* “I hate the game; it just makes kids feel bad about themselves.”
* “This is like tag but it makes people feel bad about themselves.”
* “I played so I could be ‘clean’ but it makes me feel bad.”
* “They choose the people as the “germ” because they think they are ‘different’.”
* “When people who think they are all that bump or touch people that they hate and then they touch people who don’t say “solitary” fast enough and then it filters to other people. I have been the ‘germ part’ a lot.”
* “I try not to play, but kids will touch me and say I have the ‘germ’. I just don’t say anything.”
Although it may not have been the original intent of this activity, it clearly developed into and meets the criteria for bullying and harassment because there is a distinct unbalance of power between the players and those they target. Many of our students are very upset and have been negatively impacted by these activities.
I know that you share my concern over these events and as the end of the school year is approaching, the decision about how to best address this has been a difficult one. We want our fifth graders to end their time at Dowell focusing on their accomplishments, friendships, wonderful memories, and we also want to use this as a learning opportunity for us all.
During the last few days of school we plan to engage students in some activities guided by our school counselor. These activities will be focused on bullying and harassment prevention strategies; appropriate assertiveness, building positive self-concepts; and rebuilding self-esteem which is so essential to the development of an individual’s full potential.
There has been discussion about cancelling some of the end of the year activities, and in fact I told the students on Tuesday that there would