Session 3a: Respect (Intervention), 2/9/07

As noted in the previous post, we held skits based on 5 scenarios (they can be downloaded via the links).

The students loved creating and acting in the skits, and close observation showed that every student contributed in their groups. Lisa noticed right off, however, that the students were creating humorous situations around the part of the skit where they portrayed the "wrong" behaviour, but inevitably, when their scripts changed to depicting the "correct" behaviour, they would become serious, heavy handed, sermonizing.

Each class asked to be allowed to create a second set of skits. Wanting to re-inforce the message, we agreed to their request, but asked that they put some effort into creating a more humorous, yet still applicable moral message.

Before the end of each class, Lisa had the thought to ask each of the students to name at least one thing that bothered them about their peers' behaviour at school; something they had seen or experienced that caused them discomfort, or that had hurt them. The issues they brought up were typical of the age group (teasing, bullying, name calling, etc.).

It was heartwarming to see that each student felt enough trust, felt that they were in a safe enough environment, to state their feelings, concerns. Although the behaviours they talked about are typical, the school population (120) is small enough that I feel we can work with them both individually to affect behavioural change and as a group to create a deeper sense of esprit de corps.

Since we opened up the forum, I plan to follow up in the next session with activities and discussion so that the students can have a sense that there is something they are empowered to do to create a more honourable, more peaceful, a safer school environment for one another.