Bully Lecture

I just wanted to write a quick blurb tonight about this fantastic speaker who came to Queen's and gave a lecture this evening on Bullying entitled: The Bully, The Bullied and the Bystander. Barbara Coloroso treated this subject with dignity, seriousness and a sprinkle of humour.

I learnt a lot as a future educator about my role in the school as a safe place for students and as someone who never tolerates the targeting of people, young and old, by a group of people. Ever.
It reaffirmed a great many of the lessons I learnt last year in Tim Stanley's Racism and Anti-racism course during my master's degree.

Most importantly, however, it allowed me the dignity of recognizing the moments I have been bullied. It gave me the freedom to say to myself, no it's not right to be treated in a way the dehumanizes me. When people think less of me or make rude comments because I'm curvier than the media created image of a perfect woman, it isn't MY fault. There is NOTHING wrong with me, but with them. These actions are malicious and are meant to harm.
Who would ever do such a thing, you might ask. Adults, teachers, figures of authority, random people on the street. People are capable of hate.
I had a fellow teacher candidate in my program call me a chubby weirdo in class last week. I was angry, I gave her a snappy come back, and turned around. Yet, the shame of the moment stuck with me all day. Made me want to cry my eyes out, actually. Tonight's talk gave me a little bit of my confidence back.

I think Barbara's lessons on raising kids to be caring, compassionate people who don't need a reward to be decent human beings are fantastic. Look her up, buy her book. You'll be glad you did.