Peter stands up to the 8th grade bully

Peter is a seventh grade student at Middleton Junior High. He frequently sees a group of boys picking on and making fun of other students. Although it makes him uncomfortable, he says nothing because he is afraid that everyone will make fun of him.

After a student at the school is seriously injured in a bullying incident, the school decided to start a bullying intervention program. One afternoon, the seventh grade separates into boys and girls classes for a presentation on bullying.

During the presentation, the boys discuss what it feels like to be picked on, and what it feels like to watch someone being picked on. Peter is surprised to hear a number of boys he thinks of as bullies admit that they don’t like making fun of other kids, but are afraid that if they don’t join in, they’ll be made fun of themselves.

A few days later, Peter is out on the playground when an eighth grader starts taunting a younger boy about being a sissy. A couple of other students join in, but many others stand silently by watching.

Looking around at the others, Peter realizes that a few of the boys are those who were in his group at the bullying presentation. Although he is afraid, he decides to take a chance on speaking up. “Hey, Joe,” he says. “Leave the kid alone. He didn’t do anything to you.” After a moment of stunned silence, another boy mutters, “Yeah. Leave him alone.”

And then another nods and says, “The kid’s all right. Just let him be.” The bully, realizing that he has lost his power in the situation, snorts in disgust and walks away with a final insult tossed over his shoulder. With the bully gone, Peter and the other boys return to their game, taking the bullied boy with them.

Later, one of the other boys approaches a teacher to tell her what happened on the playground. The teacher makes a point of acknowledging what Peter did, and complimenting all the boys on the way they handled the situation.

Another teacher finds time to talk to the bully, reiterate the school rules about bullying and contact his parents to discuss how to help him find more appropriate outlets for his wit and strength.