Thank you, Fourth Graders!

When the Anti-Bias Task Force recently sponsored a poster contest in the schools to address the issue of bullying, fourth grade teachers in Southold, Cutchogue, Mattituck and Greenport offered their classes an opportunity to convey a message. Yesterday I had the honor of looking at all the posters that were entered in the contest—about seventy entries!

I was so intrigued by the range of responses the children expressed. Some children said, “be a buddy, not a bully.” They expressed that the opposite of being a bully is being a friend, and their posters showed that they were learning who a friend is.

Thank you, fourth graders for sharing your wisdom! I learned from the fourth graders, that being a friend means speaking up when someone is being bullied. One student suggested confusing the bully, by saying “thank you!” There is courage in that suggestion! Other children encouraged each other to have the courage to be a friend.

I came away from looking at those posters, with gratitude for the teachers who encouraged the conversation, and admiration for the children who put their hearts on paper to confront an important issue. I was happy that our community cares enough to respond to the negative energy of bullying with a positive commitment to friendship and love. That is therapy in the finest sense, to stand with those who are hurt and offer them our understanding and love.

The poster contest entries are still under consideration by the judges, and the announcement of the winners is due later this month. But in the meantime, thank you, Fourth Graders!

Susan Dingle LCSW CASAC is a therapist/counselor/master coach in private practice with adolescents and adults on the North Fork.  For more information or to arrange an appointment, please call 631-734-8658.