There is nothing in this world I hate more than bullies! As a young kid, there was one particular girl in my class that teased me unmercifully. I went to a private school because my dad worked there. It was obvious I didn't come from a family of money like she did. So she teased me and made fun of me for the way I dressed and how I looked.
(Don't worry. This story had a happy ending. When I was in eighth grade, I was 6'3". This made me quite a welcome addition to the varsity basketball and volleyball teams at my school. It also made me become the "little sister" of all the juniors and seniors at the school. One day, I came to practice crying, and all the upper classmen asked me why I was crying. I told them about my bully. To this day, I don't know the whole story, but they took her behind the gym. A few minutes later she found me in the parking lot and told me amidst her sobs that she would never make fun of me again. She didn't!)
I hated bullies as a teacher as well . . .
If you are new to this blog you may not have known that I taught school for five years. I taught high school English and Journalism and film and speech and coached basketball and volleyball (and even a year of soccer -- Egads!)
It was so frustrating as a teacher when you would see a certain child that was unliked. Many times there wasn't anything you could "get on" the bullies about. It was often something floating underneath the surface, too far down and hidden to point out. I'd want to go and sit with the freshman at lunch who was sitting by himself. But then I would remind myself that I was a teacher and that would probably make him get made fun of even more. My only strategy was to try and catch the bullies whenever I could and also try to encourage a few of the "good kids" to include the outsider in their circle -- to help him not be so alone.
Anyways, I say all this to share a video with you that was on youtube after appearing on Britain's Got Talent. Here's one kid who is going to make every kid that bullied him feel awfully sorry! I love things like this. Just love it! I love when the bullied kid wins out in the end. Too bad those bullies aren't going to be given free tickets to his concert tour!
6 comments:
Oh...My...Gosh!!!!
And that smile at the end was almost as wonderful as his voice.
Ok, I'm not reading your blog any more if you keep making me cry. I am at work don't you know! mom
I remember that mean bully, Wen. I can still picture some of her conversations with you in the locker room and it appalled us all. It was not right and it was obvious to us all who was the "better person" in that situation and who was trying to hide their insecurities by being mean to others. I hate bullies too. And I never knew about the upperclassmen who set her straight! Awesome!! Friends are good, especially bigger and stronger ones who bullies in their place! :)
Hi Wendi,
This is Lesley's mom. I've been a reader since your Mayo days. Since Les doesn't update very often (hint-hint), she suggested I read your blog if I wanted to know what was going on in Minnesota. Although you're now in FL, I still am reading. So excited for you and John and Baby!
Anyway...check out these videos. It makes me think of Andrew all grown up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDB9zwlXrB8&mode=related&search=
Wow, what a neat video!
Reading what you wrote, I realized that I was bullied in high school, too, by a group of senior girls when I was an insecure little sophomore. I never looked at it that way before.
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