According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 22 percent of children are bullied during the school year. Of the victims of bullying, only 64 percent of them will report the incident, according to another study by the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. This can make combating the national problem of bullying a big challenge.
Fortunately, there is one teacher in the UK that has developed a learning strategy that seems to have an eye-opening effect on her students.
Rosie Dutton tours schools to teach children about mindfulness and decency. Dutton gave a simple demonstration about the effects of bullying, but in a very clever way.
How ’bout Them Apples
She took two apples and discussed with the class how “both apples looked the same; both were red, were of similar size and looked juicy enough to eat,” said Dutton. Dutton then picked up one of the apples and began to tell the class how she didn’t like it because of it’s appearance. She then told the class that she didn’t want them to like it either. The apple was passed around and the children took turns insulting it. “We really pulled this poor apple apart. I actually started to feel sorry for the little guy,” said Dutton.
Then the second apple went around the classroom, only this time kind words were spoken to the apple. The children took turns saying things like “you’re a lovely apple” and “Your skin is beautiful.” “Some children looked at me like I was insane.” recalled Dutton, but the lesson was soon to reveal it’s point.
Dutton then took both apples and cut them open.
The first apple, the one that was put down by the class, was horribly bruised and did not look appetizing at all. While the second apple looked pristine and delicious. “I think there was a lightbulb moment for the children immediately,” Said Dutton, “They really got it, what we saw inside that apple, the bruises, the mush and the broken bits is what is happening inside every one of us when someone mistreats us with their words or actions.”
For those who are curious, Dutton had actually dropped the bruised apple on the floor repeatedly at the start of the presentation. On the surface both of the apples seemed fine, but underneath one of them was very hurt. This kind of demonstration teaches children about the far reaching effects of their actions, and makes them mindful of how other people should be treated.
We would like to thank Rosie Dutton for her contribution in teaching others to be decent to one another. For the full story visit Facebook.
