ACTING OUT FUNNY SCENARIOS WITH SERIOUS THEME

Mark Zaleski / The Press-Enterprise
Merril Merman imitates a student who is being picked on Thursday at Highland Elementary School in Norco.

Speaking up

Highland Elementary pupils receive an anti-bullying message

By LINDA LOU 

 The Press-Enterprise

NORCO

Children at a Highland Elementary School assembly easily offered a name Thursday for someone who teases, scares and beats up other children - a bully.

But they needed some help with ideas about getting away from bullies. They learned a few coping strategies by watching guest speaker Merrill Merman act out funny scenarios with serious messages.

Merman said.

"I learned that you should walk in the other direction when there's a fight and go tell other people," said fourth-grader Garrett Parker, 9.

It's easy to spot aggressive signs of bullying in others, but we also need to recognize smaller signs in ourselves and get rid of them, Merman said. Cutting in line, making fun of other people and bossing around siblings are also bullying, he said.

"It's something we haven't had and the school needed it," said Royce Hinson, a mother with two boys at Highland. "There's a lot of things kids have to deal with at school."

Hinson, who organized the assembly for PTA, said she has heard some name-calling and seen a few scuffles on campus.

The first lesson was about confidence and walking

 

 with your head up and looking into people's faces when talking to

them. Bullies search for victims who appear weaker and unsure of themselves, Merman said.

"When we're proud of ourselves and believe in ourselves, it shows on the outside," Merman said.

When stuck with a bully, children should make room

 

to scramble, yell for help

and report the situation to

a teacher or other adult, Merman said.

Besides being victims and bullies, many students are often witnesses, Merman said.

Witnesses should get help

 for victims by telling adults. That's different from tattling to get people in trouble,

 

"Being a bully is not nice," said Caitlin Bridges, a 10-year-old fifth-grader. "And if you get bullied, you might be a bully to someone else."

Caitlin said she has heard some girls gossiping behind other people's backs. She said she might try to stop that kind of negative talking next time by bringing up the assembly.

"You cannot be a bully," Garett said.

Reach Linda Lou at (951) 893-2109 or llou@pe.com