One teachers approach to preventing gender bullying in a classroom
Alie arrived at our 1st-grade classroom wearing a sweatshirt with a hood. I asked her to take off her hood, and she refused. I thought she was just being difficult and ignored it. After breakfast we got in line for art, and I noticed that she still had not removed her hood. When we arrived at the art room, I said: “Allie, I’m not playing. It’s time for art. The rule is no hoods or hats in school.”
She looked up with tears in her eyes and I realized there was something wrong. Her classmates went into the art room and we moved to the art storage area so her classmates wouldn’t hear our conversation. I softened my tone and asked her if she’d like to tell me what was wrong.
“My ponytail,” she cried.
“Can I see?” I asked.
She nodded and pulled down her hood. Allie’s braids had come undone overnight and there hadn’t been time to redo them in the morning, so they had to be put back in a ponytail. It was high up on the back of her head like those of many girls in our class, but I could see that to Allie it just felt wrong. With Allie’s permission, I took the elastic out and re-braided her hair so it could hang down.
“How’s that?” I asked.
She smiled. “Good,” she said and skipped off to join her friends in art.
‘Why Do You Look Like a Boy?’
I am at a completely crazy place in my life right now. I’m about to graduate and start whatever it is I’m doing next. I honestly never thought I’d make it to this point. I’m still unsure if I have even DONE what is expected of me, but we’ll see.
Its so crazy being single after so long. I don’t know what to do or how to act anymore. Especially after the time I’ve had. I think I’m going to get better at it and maybe even come out of all this alive and better than before? I am definitely a changed person because of it.
Anyways. I like this better than my old livenjournal. (Sorry lj.) I will definitely be here more.
About me
I'm 23 and starting a new chapter. What a nice way to document it?
