Seneca Students Join Forces to Combat Bullying

Sixth and eighth grade students at Seneca Middle School came together for a joint discussion of bullying and bystanders earlier this month, 

As an extension of the study of the Holocaust in eighth grade social studies, and the study of Holocaust Literature in sixth grade English language arts (ELA), the conference allowed students to apply the lessons that they have learned in class to real life scenarios.

The conference consisted of an introduction of the Holocaust by Kevin Riley’s eighth grade students, emphasizing the role bullying played in this event. 

The students performed interactive role-playing scenarios they created for the sixth graders. The ELA students watched the scenario and discussed as a group where bullying took place, as well as the role of the bystander in the scene. 

Direct audience participation from Christine Marino's ELA students included watching the skit a second time and yelling “Stop” when bullying was present.

They were then able to revise the script, and replace the original actors in the skit to emphasize actions that could be taken to stop the bully or bullies in his/her tracks. Bullying scenarios included physical bullying, emotional bullying and cyber bullying.

When the lesson was completed, all students said they learned new techniques for helping a victim of bullying, such as telling an adult and befriending the victim in the situation.  

Both Riley and Marino felt the collaboration was a success.  

"I'm proud of the maturity and responsibility our students demonstrated in discussing such a serious topic,” Riley said. “After seeing the response of our sixth and eighth grade students, I am hopeful that they will come together in creating a Seneca community free of bullying.”

Students were enthusiastic about their experience, and felt that they learned realistic tactics to help them as bystanders to be more proactive in putting an end to bullying.