Upstander Story: Children with Different Abilities

It is hard to be an Upstander every time. Sometimes you have to think about what would be the best thing to do.

• Have you ever been a bystander and you wanted to do something to stop the bullying but did not know how?
• What do you think is the best thing to do for each of these stories?
• Which ending feels the best for you?

Josh is just another kid in Mark's class but he has a speech impediment. He sounds different when he talks. Mark does not know him very well but he seems quiet and shy. Mark has only only heard Josh talk a few times. The teacher, called on him today to answer a question. Even though Josh got it right, it took him a few minutes to complete the answer. Now several of the boys in the class are making fun of him behind his back. Mark is troubled by this behavior.

What should Mark do?

• This time, Mark confronts the situation head on. Mark tells the boys that it is not nice of them to do make fun of someone just because they talk differently... or for any reason.
• This time, Mark pulls a few of his close friends who have been laughing aside and tells them that laughing at Josh and making fun of him is wrong and hurtful. He asks them to not encourage the kids who are leading the bullying.
• This time Mark tells his teacher what is going on. He does not want to get anyone in trouble, but he is bothered by the mean behavior and wants to help Josh.
• This time Mark hangs out with Josh at recess and after school. He wants to find out more about him and maybe make friends. He learns that the more he and Josh spend time together, the less he notices his speech as a problem.
• This time...(make up your own Upstander story!)