Calgary Elementary School's "buddy bench"

[Looch City]

I came across this article while browsing Herald:

A Calgary elementary school hopes to combat social isolation with a “buddy bench” that kids can sit on when they’re feeling lonely.

Alexander Ferguson School is installing the brightly decorated wooded bench on its playground Tuesday morning. The idea is that kids who feel left out can head to the bench, signalling that they’re in need of a friend.

“There are students who feel anxious and, with that anxiety, they don’t know how to reach out to other students,” she said. “This bench kind of gives them a language.”

Source:http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...796/story.html

What do you guys think?

Personally, I think it'd be a perfect setting for bullying to occur. I'm pretty sure if this was around when I was in elementary (00's), I'd be ridiculed and laughed when sitting at the bench. Is elementary a completely different place than a decade and a half ago?

[nfotiu]

Sure, why not. Grown-ups have these and seem to like them. Only difference is we have someone to serve us beer and listen to our troubles.

It seems like something that could work. Seems that kids these days have been made a lot more self aware about bullying and stuff for the most part.

[Travis Munroe]

Good idea in theory but I cant see it working.... Although very hazy, I rememeber when I was in grade 6 and not in a million years would I have considered the colorful bench should I feel left out. Ammo for a grade 6 bully at its best. I do think it would work in those schools that go up to grade 3!

[Tyler]

Fantastic idea. In theory.

In reality?



Hahah! Tommy is sitting on the lonely bench! What a dork! Hahah!

[getbak]

It would be better if it was named the "Cold Approach" bench.

[Ducay]

They mean "Bully Bench", right? I can't wait to see how well this goes.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

I came across this article while browsing Herald:





Source:http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...796/story.html

What do you guys think?

Personally, I think it'd be a perfect setting for bullying to occur. I'm pretty sure if this was around when I was in elementary (00's), I'd be ridiculed and laughed when sitting at the bench. Is elementary a completely different place than a decade and a half ago?

Jeez you are young....

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Jeez you are young....

Early 20's is young I guess.

[Ben_in_Canada]

Schools over here don't have libraries?
That's where the kids used to go hide where I grew up.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Ducay

They mean "Bully Bench", right? I can't wait to see how well this goes.

[CaptainCrunch]

No kid in his right mind is going to sit on that bench.

He might not get bullied while sitting there, but he's going to get labeled because frankly kids are concentrated evil in a 50 lb package.

Its along the same line as a friend of mine who told me that she encouraged her kid to hug a bully because they feel left out of society.

You just leave yourself wide open for later.

[foshizzle11]

will it be monitored by a teacher or parent volunteer? I kind of get the theory behind it but I think it opens more doors to bullying. I guess it will be interesting to hear the results or how long this idea lasts for at this particular school.

[Table 5]

I could see this working with young kids...Grade 3-4 and under. Maybe even up to 5-6. Most kids are still pretty decent then...I feel like kids only really turn into a-holes in junior high.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Its along the same line as a friend of mine who told me that she encouraged her kid to hug a bully because they feel left out of society.

Wow, now that is some kind of naive.

Bully: Give me your lunch money!
Target: [Hugs Bully]
[Pounding ensues]

[CaptainCrunch]

I think if they're going to have the I'm lonely bench, they need to have the supreme school jerk chair.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Reaper

Wow, now that is some kind of naive.

Bully: Give me your lunch money!
Target: [Hugs Bully]
[Pounding ensues]

I felt bad about that whole conversation because she felt that she was onto something brilliant that would fix the bullying problems of the world, and I burst out laughing when she said it.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

No kid in his right mind is going to sit on that bench.

He might not get bullied while sitting there, but he's going to get labeled because frankly kids are concentrated evil in a 50 lb package.

Its along the same line as a friend of mine who told me that she encouraged her kid to hug a bully because they feel left out of society.

You just leave yourself wide open for later.

Yeah I took the other approach.


The rule is you ask nicely three times to leave you, or however alone, then punch them in the face as hard as you can.


I have only ever gotten 1 call from the school.

[Ashasx]

If a lonely introverted kid goes to sit on this bench, another introverted kid won't come to sit beside him.

Instead people will think he's even more weird. It's self-perpetuating.

[V]

I think that people have a warped understanding of how schools are working these days, especially in elementary. It sounds like we expect it to be exactly how it was when we were there in the 70s / 80s. The school my kids go to are completely different, and bullying is down significantly from where it was in my day. Maybe that's not all schools, but sounds like fotze's school is the same.

[V]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If a lonely introverted kid goes to sit on this bench, another introverted kid won't come to sit beside him.

Instead people will think he's even more weird. It's self-perpetuating.

My daughter would, and I know other kids in her school that would as well. Not to mention other members from the kid's "team" who are responsible for looking after each other.

Kids are not inherently evil, and if the social construct of the school is setup to reduce bullying the kids will follow suit.