The ART of caring....

   The other day, a seventh grade student came running into our fifth period class. "Mrs. Rummenie, I have to show you something on You Tube!" Leary, I brushed her off and said I'd do it later. I am always cautious about watching student sponsored videos while teaching, as anyone should be. "But you'd really like this, I promise!" she continued. I asked her what it was about since she clearly wasn't going to draw anything until I viewed it. She explained, "bullying". Now, my fifth period class and I have, on more than one occasion, discussed being good to one another, why gossiping may hurt, and thinking before we speak; so this intrigued me. After settling the rest of the class, and getting them started on their realistic drawings, I ventured onto the web. I sat at my desk (with my eager student), and viewed the video. I have to admit, I was prepared to blow the whole thing off with a giggle. What happened next was completely unexpected.
     The video first grabbed me with it's silly looking graphics. A porkchop, a karate suit, both awkward in their animated movements. Then I heard the story begin, and the magnetism of the words made me forget I was in class. I was whisked away by the hypnotic poem read by its author, Shane Koyczan, in spoken verse. The graphics and animation (which I later learned was created by several different artists in response to Koyczan's solicitation for contributions) were perfect, and equally encapsulating. After realizing the power this short clip possessed, I turned the classroom projector on and shared. Though the video had nothing to do with what was going on in class, it had everything to do with what was going on in class. The stories were heart wrenching, and the children were glued to the screen. I saw a few tears, a few heads bow in either understanding or possibly, remorse. We spent the rest of the period sharing stories and discussing how bullying made us feel, and learning to coexist. I shared stories of times I had bullied ( I explained that we all do it at one time or another, even if by mistake) and stories of being bullied. The children were in awe as I admitted to having called two classmates the "roach" girls. We discussed mistakes, and empathy. I told them about my high school math teacher who always called on me, despite his awareness of my severe dyslexia and school anxiety. I told them how hard it was to be the only kid in school who disliked this beloved, funny, and charismatic teacher. They whispered to each other, and some cracked a smile. We had connected. I was no longer the art teacher, I was a survivor. Just like Shane. I was living, breathing proof that things get better. They realized that I had not forgotten any of the times I was hurt. They realized that I had found a way to push that hurt aside.
  Of all the lessons I have taught in my twelve years of employment, this was the least planned, and the most powerful. I implore you to share this with loved ones, young and old. This video is a must for every middle school classroom....the fact that the awesome animation makes it art room appropriate is a bonus! I'd like to say "enjoy!" but that's not a fitting wish. I will say "absorb!" instead.

To This Day.... by Shane Koyczan