A group of fifth graders laid down the law at Minnesota’s Franklin Elementary School when they stepped up to protect James Willmert, a fifth grader from another class who has a learning disability.
Five friends—Jack Pemble, Jake Burgess, Gus Gartzke, Tyler Jones, and Landon Kopischke—had seen other kids teasing Willmert.
Jack Pemble asked USA today: “Why would you pick on someone who,” as Jack Burgess finished his question “has special needs.”
They further explained the acts of bullying that Willmert suffered.
“They were like, using him and taking advantage of him,” Jake told KARE11, “because he’s easier to pick on, and it’s just not right.”
(L) James Willmert and Jake Burgess behind him at lunch. (Screenshot/KARE)
The school’s anti-bullying lessons seem to have resonated with the five boys but it never dawned on their teacher that it would have an impact as profound as this.
“It really kind of makes you proud to be their teacher,” Mallory Howk told USA Today.
Willmert’s mom Margi Willmert didn’t see it coming either.
“He used to not want to go out for recess or anything,” Margi told USA Today. “It would be like a struggle and now he can barely eat his lunch to get outside to play with those guys.”
Bullying has no place in one 5th grade class in Mankato, Minnesota. James Willmert has a learning disability that made…
由 Moomblr 发布于 2015年6月2日周二
The five boys had learned that Willmert was adopted from a Colombian orphanage and six years later, he lost his adopted father in a bicycle accident.
Since Willmert was befriended by the boys, he has taken on a new hobby; shooting hoops.
“We just got a basketball hoop last week because he now loves basketball,” Margi said. “I mean, they’re changing him.”
But the five are not done assimilating him into his new fraternity.
The boys bought Willmert a new Playstation using their own money and some from their parents.
Jake had asked Willmert, “Do you have any sports games?” to which Willmert replied no. “So that’s where I came up with the idea,” Jake said.
It was the first time Willmert had ever had any friends visit him at his house.
“Everyone of them were smiling like crazy,” Margi said. “I’ll never forget it. Never.”
“All of these guys are the best friends anybody could ask for,” Willmert told KARE about his new friends.
Reclaiming Power From Bullies
So what separates kids who can cope with being bullied from those who can’t?
Dr. Katie Davis, a child clinical psychologist practicing in New York’s Upper East Side and a researcher at John Hopkins, says the most important factor she sees in her practice is strong social connections, where kids feel that someone—anyone—is looking out for them.
“They don’t need a lot of friends, but they need one. They don’t need a million supportive family members, but they need a point person,” Davis said. “Kids need a few solid relationships to know that they’re not alone and handling their experience in isolation. I think isolation is really damaging for kids and it makes the world seem unsafe and out of control.”
At the same time, adults who get too involved can make the problem worse.
Danielle Matthew, a licensed family therapist specializing in treatment for bully victims, finds that when parents insist on taking control, their kid typically suffers more. Not only does the victim feel even more powerless but the bully who gets in trouble seeks revenge. So he looks for crueler yet more covert methods to attack those who rat him out.
“Kids want to handle their own problems,” Matthew said. “They don’t want mom or dad involved, nor do I suggest it.”
In her new book, “The Empowered Child: How to Help Your Child Cope, Communicate, and Conquer Bullying,” Matthew explains that what kids really need is emotional support so they can formulate their own plan.
Bullying is basically a dirty power grab through intimidation and disrespect. For kids trying to regain their power from a bully, Matthew encourages them to consider their range of control—identifying what they can change and what they can’t.
“Sometimes kids find that they have more power than they think. They realize that they can change their reactions to the bully, and the situations they’re in,” Matthew said. “Because, at the end of the day, that’s the only thing we have control over—how we respond, how we relate, and how we take care of ourselves.”
The Epoch Times reporters Conan Milner and Jack Phillips contributed to this report
