Rise Above (bullies)

Idea behind the song:

It's amazing how long pain endures in our hearts from our childhood wounds. It is really hard to prevent bullying. However, it might be possible to change the culture's acceptance of bullies if you could get this anti-bullying theme song stuck in their heads.

One evening, my husband, Eric, had his high school yearbook out, anxiously anticipating his 20th high school reunion. He fondly told me about so many of this classmates, some lawyers, some doctors, one working for NASA in charge of the Galileo probe, then the Mars Lander...then he got to "Eddie". His mood went to sour, his tone, vile! I couldn't believe my ears! Why this hatred? Eddie had teased and bullied Eric in grade school... with a hateful tone called him nerdy and "bookish". It really stays with you! I remember my elementary school teasing like it was yesterday. You know what happened at the reunion? Eddie came up to Eric and apologized. Turns out, Eddie has a "bookish" son!

Our teasing was mild compared to what some of our students endure. It can never be tolerated!!

Lesson idea:

I use this song as a theme song for my "eagle time" (which is a student advisory program first thing in the morning). I think there are so many good ideas for bullying lessons for advisory classes. The song can accompany any other lesson on bullying...or just to give your classes a break. Here are a few ideas:

pbs, no name-calling week, and many more!

(Keep in the back of your mind, any of my songs can be used as a "time keeping" device. Start the song, then tell students they must get papers stapled or have their stuff cleaned up by the time the song is finished. You may get a positive message stuck in their minds.

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