Bullying starts with the kids, and therefore, it must end with the kids. I was recently hanging out around a shopping mall with my 16 month old son. He was running around all over the place and chasing / playing with one of the toddlers a few years older than him. Things were totally cool until the other kid though he would kick my son because he didn't want to be chased any more. That's when I realized how quick we are to resort to physical action instead of verbal communication. I believe bullying is the same way, it's much easier to be physical than to be verbal with how we express ourselves. Therefore it's important to equip our kids with the much needed resources. Bullying starts with the kids, and therefore, it must end with the kids. Here is a recent article on jiu-jitsu and bullying, I feel every school should include in their curriculum.
That is the philosophy behind the Gracie Bullyproof School Transformation System. Rener Gracie, one of the founders of the program, is bringing that message to Henley Elementary School and Ponderosa Middle School Sept. 23.
The Gracie family is internationally known for jiujitsu, with three generations of martial arts notoriety. The Bullyproof website outlines how to put responsibility back into the children’s’ hands, rather than blaming teachers and parents.
“When bullying becomes a serious issue on campus, everyone is quick to point fingers at teachers and school administrators, but the simple truth is that they can only do so much. Bullies are most aggressive when teachers aren’t present, and studies show that when a victim reports harassment to a teacher, the bullying may even get worse,” the website says.
The answer? Change the peer pressure dynamic to making it cool to stand up to bullies.
Rob Reynolds is a certified instructor with the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy and teaches anti-bullying martial arts techniques, as well as verbal techniques.
We’re teaching them how to verbally defend themselves rather than physically defend themselves,” he said.
He said Rener Gracie’s program will show students how to make a difference at their school.
When there’s a bullying event, there is usually a crowd of children or teens watching, not just the bully and the victim.
“These kids that are watching, a lot of these kids are afraid to step up and help, afraid the bully will turn his attention to them,” Reynolds said.
Bullyproof will help organize a student task force, a group of children and teens who will stand up and say bullying is not OK. Those in the taskforce can earn colored bracelets, like the colored belts in martial arts, as they advance in the program. They start with white wristbands and advance to blue, purple, brown and lastly, black.
“Children need positive reinforcement,” the Bullyproof website says. “Praise from their peers, and consistent recognition each time they intervene and help a victim, not only actively encourages intervention, but makes it the new norm on campus. Rather than sitting back, or laughing from the sidelines, kids will have the intrinsic motivation to lend a helping hand.”
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