Restraining us from murder is the importance of a face
In a small martial arts studio, a young girl named Rachel finds herself in an unusual situation. Surrounded by her peers, she often serves as the scapegoat during lessons, frequently made a fool of by her fellow students. This time, however, the stakes are higher as she faces a formidable opponent - a girl her age with a wild look in her eyes.
As the lesson progresses, the instructor, dressed in immaculate white workout clothes, encourages students to attack and move faster. Amidst the chaos, the instructor questions Rachel's focus, suggesting she may be daydreaming. Yet, Rachel is preoccupied with an unexpected visitor - a pigeon that has flown into the room through a broken window and perched on a side beam, watching the lesson with keen interest.
Rachel, with a gentle touch, holds the injured bird in her hands, noticing a broken wing. She kneels and strokes its head, her usual timid demeanour momentarily forgotten. The pigeon, for a brief moment, seems to be a source of comfort for her amidst the chaos.
Meanwhile, Rachel's mother sits on a small wooden platform, watching the scene unfold. After the lesson, she is prepared to give Rachel a lecture and the coach may intervene due to her perceived naivety and defencelessness. The decision to offer Rachel martial arts lessons was made as a last resort to make her more resilient.
Strategies to help children develop resilience and self-defense skills in bullying situations include building communication, emotional expression, and confidence; teaching assertiveness and how to respond calmly; fostering empathy and safe reporting; and involving trusted adults for support and intervention. These steps, if applied effectively, can help Rachel navigate the challenges she faces both on and off the mat.
[1] National Education Association. (2018). Bullying Prevention and Intervention: Creating Safe and Supportive Schools. Washington, DC: Author. [2] CASEL. (2013). The Whole Child: A Framework for Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning. Chicago, IL: Author. [3] American Psychological Association. (2018). Helping Children Cope with Bullying. Washington, DC: Author. [4] PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. (2019). Bullying Prevention: Resources for Educators. Minneapolis, MN: Author. [5] Education Development Center, Inc. (2011). Bullying Prevention and Intervention: A Guide for Schools. Washington, DC: Author.
Rachel, struggling with her peers in the martial arts studio, finds solace in an unexpected place - an injured pigeon that has flown in during the lesson. As she tenderly cares for the bird with a broken wing, she momentarily forgets her usual timid demeanor, mirroring the strategies suggested for children in bullying situations to develop resilience and self-defense skills. These techniques, aimed at building communication, emotional expression, and confidence, teach children like Rachel how to respond calmly and assert themselves effectively, providing her with the tools she needs to navigate the challenges she faces on and off the mat.
