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Wow, it’s been an interesting day. As some of you may know, I work at a middle school with special needs kids. It is, in fact, the very same middle school (Maywood) that I attended in 7th and 8th grade a few *smirk* 
years ago. Today I’ve ended up talking a lot about bullying with a couple of students..not full on physical bullying, such as being literally beat up, but verbal bullying, and the drawing of cruel pictures meant to hurt someone, etc. When I’m around the school, regular ed kids that are “not cool” in the eyes of their peers tend to migrate to me and “my kids” (the special needs kids).
Today a couple of the girls hanging out with us told me a few of the things that have been said to them by the so called “cool kids”. One girl I talked to (I’ll call her ‘Anna’..an adorable, friendly little 6th grader, (yes, Maywood now accomodates 6th-8th grade) told me that she has often been told to “just go drown yourself already.” (Her last name happens to be Drown; I guess whoever says this thinks they are being terribly clever 
) She also pointed out a 7th grader (who is physically MUCH bigger than she is, and is one of the “cool kids,” that semi-threatens to beat her up by slapping her fist into her palm when she sees her.) I heard this same 7th grader tell ‘Anna’ to shut up..and I got on her for it..but of course I can’t always be there. I’m just thinking, how can kids be so cruel?? I mean, this little 6th grader talked about these absolutely unacceptable comments and actions as if they were commonplace in her young life. She is the one who should be considered “cool”..she’s the one that was interested in my special needs students, and made my day better with her friendly demeanor. Plus, as a side note..and I’m certainly not implying that looks are all important, but this little gal that is so harshly picked apart is going to be a beauty..already is (I can see her being the slightly gawky, skinny teenager who grows into her looks and gets jobs walking down high fashion runways for big bucks..she just has really beautiful, symmetrical, dainty features.) I’m rooting for her to show up all the punks that are making her life so miserable right now! Oh YEAH! lol)
I also talked quite a bit with another girl; I’ll refer to her as ‘Jenny’, who is constantly picked on. She told me some of the things that have been said to her..just breaks my heart. She was asked “What size is that shirt you’re wearing?” when she wore a cool tie dye shirt to school, and the antagonizer went on to say, “probably like 8XXX right?” She’s a little on the larger size (hardly, really).. I guess if you’re not a size 1-5, you’re a target too. She also described a picture one of the ‘hip’ girls drew that was supposed to be Jenny getting her faced caved in.. I mean, what the heck?!
It gets to me all the more because I was one of those kids that got picked on..I was never accepted into the ‘in crowd’, so I know how traumatizing this stuff is…I’ve never forgotten certain incidents of verbal humiliation from my own 7th grade school year (having the most popular guy in school call me out in front of his crowd and make fun of me publicly while his friends just watched.) But, even I was never threatened physically in any way, like these kids are. It seems that things have gotten worse.
It almost feels like I’ve gone back in time in some ways…here I am back at Maywood School, sitting with the “uncool” (but actually the very nicest) kids. However, I’m seeing that I didn’t even have it all that bad, (bullying-wise) and the nice thing for me is that I’m no longer getting picked on because the kids see me as a “teacher”. I’m starting to think that maybe my time there does have a deeper point..I’m doing my best to encourage the kids who face the bullying on a daily basis..sharing my experiences with them, and trying to get across to them that it WILL get better, and that they are above this type of behavior and this petty social pecking order. Those kids will eventually mature, and in 10-20 years or so, they may even connect as friends with them (although I know it’s pretty hard for them to be encouraged by something that may come about so far ahead in the future..but I hope it might offer a glimmer of hope at least.)
The so called “uncool” kids talk to me and make work more fun, and they care about and help with the special needs kids I work with. They are tender hearted and smart. These current middle school “uncool kids” are, in my book, the most mature and the nicest, coolest kids at school.
Tracy
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http://shopwardrobewanderer.blogspot.com/
Check me out! I’m offering lots of original art pendant options for sale, and I occasionally list clothing items :)
I also have a facebook page, so if you’re interested in following my creative pursuits, please join me =D
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/The-Wardrobe-Wanderer/129137043793065
xo
Tracy
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Check out my fashion-y blog!
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More wearable art by me! 
This one will be a gift–just this morning I came up with the idea of putting a slightly larger printed version of the art piece on the box that the necklace comes in.
just a quick post–hope to jump back into attempting etsy again soon!
Posted in Art, Arts and Crafts, Etsy Shop | 1 Comment »
