Facing fears is a tough act
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After watching skits performed by 7th and 8th graders, 6th graders at Delavan's Turtle Creek Elementary school got to ask questions about life at Phoenix Middle School.
DELAVAN — Grown-ups tend to make unsympathetic comments such as “I wish the worst thing I had to worry about was remembering my locker combination. Must be nice.”
An adult might laugh at someone who’s under the impression that smart kids get beat up in middle school.
Maybe that’s because they’ve forgotten—possibly by choice—the time in their lives when those fears were real.
A few Phoenix Middle School students still can remember fifth grade and the things that scared them in the months before middle school. To help their younger peers, the 12 members of the Peer Drama wrote, directed, produced and performed skits about some of the “scarier” parts of middle school for fifth-graders in the Delavan-Darien School District.
They also answered questions about middle school posed by their fifth-grade audience.
At Turtle Elementary School on Thursday afternoon, the middle-schoolers joined the adults and chuckled a little at the notion that smart kids get beat up.
But they weren’t laughing unkindly.
“I’ve never gotten beat up,” said a grinning Alondra Castenada, a seventh-grader who admitted she was smart.
The exercise was a good way to spread the word about the good things at Phoenix Middle School, counselor Troy Stelzer said. He and his students are “baffled” by rumors of drug use and other risky behavior at the school, he told the elementary-school audience.
“That’s just not true,” Stelzer said.
The drama group acted out a variety of common assumptions and safety issues relevant to middle school. The actors were willing to be a little silly to open up discussion on some serious issues such as Internet safety, bullying, gossip and drug use.
They told their young peers that teachers are there to help and that “nobody even tries” to bring drugs to school. And they reminded the fifth-graders that they have choices when it comes to using drugs or drinking alcohol.
Some choices could be canoeing, playing volleyball and bowling, and they acted those out.
Seventh- and eighth-grade actors played the parts of the ball and pins. The skit got a good laugh, and, while it wasn’t mentioned, human bowling looked like a fun alternative to drinking.
Here is a sample of the questions and issues they addressed:
Q: Are middle school teachers mean?
A: No, of course not.
“They chose this as a career. Do you really think they’re going to be mean to you?” seventh-grader Rose Wang said.
Q: If someone is bullying you and you tell a teacher or an adult, won’t you get called a snitch?
A: Maybe. But that’s only going to get the bully in bigger trouble, students said. Teachers have a “backup plan” for that kind of thing.
And calling you a name is only a matter of opinion, middle-schoolers assured their young peers.
Q: Are there fights every day in middle school?
A: No. One fight broke out on the playground at Phoenix Middle School this year. It lasted about five seconds before it was broken up, seventh-grader Cody Chelminiak said.
Q: Is the food horrible in the middle school cafeteria?
A: No. It’s the same food you get in elementary school, except you get more choices.
Q: Do smart kids get picked on?
A: No. Smart kids usually get asked to help with group projects.
“I’m smart, and I’m cool,” said eighth-grade peer leader Abe Pacheco.
His peers rolled their eyes at him and giggled.
May 4, 2009 at 3:21 p.m.
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Sounds like a really good thing to have. However, I still wish the the worst thing I had to worry about was my locker combination.
(Sigh). :)
May 4, 2009 at 10:50 a.m.
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yes , i agree this is a good program as well. I had those "going to Jr High " fears and the stories that were told, " toliet flushings etc".I think this mentor program will help with the older kids not looking down on the younger kids as well. It did seem to me the older kids were mean, not all but some.
May 4, 2009 at 3:42 a.m.
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wow, nothing to be scared about just do it and get it done with.
May 3, 2009 at 4:15 p.m.
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sarasou2006, I hope they still do this for the kidlets at Kennedy. My grandchildren attend Kennedy. I so appreciate the extra effort teachers go to, to try to ease children into new environments. I'm curious, does anyone know if this was started by the Parent/Teachers Association?
Perhaps other schools could put these together using volunteers, grandparents and such. Then, people like biggirl won't have ruffled feathers...
Children LOVE to put on little shows and skits and such. My oldest grandchild has such a fascinating imagination. Most kids do. This is a great way to instill responsibility in the older kids already in middle school and give the younger kids a mentoring type of relationship with those they will be joining - the next school year.
Kudos.... I love it!
May 3, 2009 at 2:36 p.m.
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First, biggirl, do you think this program is unnecessary? I don't understand why because it is easing the minds of young children. Entering middle school is scary when you don't know what to expect. I remember being part of a group like this from Marshall, talking to kids at Kennedy. It's fun and it gives the kids a sense of relief. They also take tours at the middle school and middle schoolers take tours at the high school, biggirl, do you think that is unnecessary?
May 3, 2009 at 8:01 a.m.
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My comment: I wish there was a program like this back in the sixties. It seems like some of you, judging by your comments, may have been an inspiration for this program.
May 3, 2009 at 7:27 a.m.
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Interaction between the middle school students (who have "been there, done that")and the 5th graders facing middle school next year, is a great idea! Children really do look up to their older peers yet fear the unknown at the same time. Especially for a first born or only child without older siblings to talk to.
While the 3-R's are important, life lessons are too. The transition to a new school, new teachers, new friends is daunting to a child. Whatever can be done to qualm those fears is merited. I commend this school for taking on the task at hand and would love to see other schools follow suit.
Congratulations for being sensitive to these kids fears and addressing them in a unique and fun way!
May 2, 2009 at 8:21 p.m.
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This sounds like a good peer program to me. I may be getting old, but I remember having these same fears before entering junior high school. And, sandman, your comment was rude and probably has ruined the day for one or more of the students pictured here. Proud of yourself now?
May 2, 2009 at 8:12 p.m.
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biggirl, you have shown your true colors, as usual. Congrats!
Thank you for proving that even the mentally challenged can be taught to use the internet!
May 2, 2009 at 4:49 p.m.
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WOW! I think it's time to cut back on the subsidized school breakfast and lunch handout programs, if you get my drift.
May 2, 2009 at 4:36 p.m.
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I think this was a nice story. Children do have real fears even if they seem silly to an adult. I work with children who are getting ready for the middle school move and if you show a little interest you will be surprized at what they have to say.
May 2, 2009 at 4:16 p.m.
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How much time did this take, and what other activities could have been taking place instead?
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