Sample Story


THE BULLY

Shelton and Kevin were friends for 10 years and practically joined at the hip. Both boys were fifth grade honor roll students. Shelton, the captain of the Safety patrol squad, has the build of a mesomorph. Kevin was the lieutenant on the squad and has an ectomorph body frame. Part of their duties as safety patrols required them to escort new students around the school for one week.

Steve, a new student at school, has an endomorph body frame. Ms. Pettis, the school’s principal, assigned Kevin to be his escort for the week. Although Steve appeared pleasant while meeting the staff at school, Ms. Pettis knew about all the problems he encountered at other schools. When Kevin walked in the office, he was surprised at Steve’s size. Steve was about 4 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than Kevin. Steve had a very intimidating presence. After a brief introduction, Kevin and Steve departed the office and walked around the school to familiarize Steve with the campus. Ms. Pettis immediately convened with her staff to inform them about some of the ongoing problems that Steve had at previous schools. Ms. Pettis informed her staff that Steve’s mother and father were divorced and his mother has full custody of Steve. His mom was recently laid off and they had no choice but to live in a shelter. Steve was notorious for bullying students around school campuses. Ms. Pettis informed her staff to monitor Steve’s behavior discretely but to give him a fair chance because everyone has the potential to change.

A month passed and everything appeared to be going well with Steve around campus. Shelton and Kevin’s parents had noticed that Kevin had changed. Shelton noticed that Kevin was always happy and playful until Steve came around. Whenever Steve appeared, Kevin would become nervous and begin to tremble. Kevin’s parents noticed when they picked him up from school, he was always famished and would run to get in the car, lock the door and roll up the window. Kevin’s mom had even noticed that Kevin was fearful to get on the computer in the evening to do his homework. When asked if there was a problem, Kevin would reply, “No.” Kevin’s mom called Ms. Pettis to see if she had any idea why Kevin was acting so bizarre. Ms. Pettis suggested that she come in for a conference with Kevin to find out what was going on. In the beginning of their conference, Kevin seemed nervous and wasn’t forth coming with information. Ms. Pettis reassured Kevin that he was safe and promised him that no one would harm him if he spoke up. Kevin began to cry uncontrollably and told them how he was being bullied by Steve. He told how Steve was taking his lunch money and made him complete his class and homework.

Furthermore, he explained how when he told Steve that he was going to report him, Steve grabbed him by the collar and told him that he would hurt him and his loved ones. It was also revealed that Steve would cyber bully Kevin by sending threatening messages over the computer. Kevin’s mother was furious and demanded to speak with the school safety officer to file a complaint. They immediately called Steve to the office, notified his mother and told her it was imperative for her to report the school. Once Steve’s mother arrived to school, the school safety officer and Ms. Pettis informed her what was transpiring and demanded Steve to stop bullying Kevin. The school safety officer warned Steve that he could be charged with multiple crimes and sent to juvenile detention if he didn’t comply. Steve had always gotten away with bullying other students because no one ever told on him. Ms. Pettis and the school safety officer commended Kevin for his candor and conducted a bullying assembly at school so that every student around campus would know what to do if they were ever bullied.
National Standards: NL-ENG.K-12.1, NL-ENG.K-12.2, NL-ENG.K-12.7

..............................................................................................................................................................................


"THE BULLY QUESTIONS"


  1. The phrase joined at the hip means:

    1. Shelton and Kevin were Siamese twins
    2. Shelton and Kevin like to do a dance called the bump
    3. Shelton and Kevin were very close friends
    4. Shelton and Kevin like to wear Hip-Hop clothes


  2. Shelton and Kevin’s family had known one another for?

    1. A decade
    2. 9 years
    3. 6 years
    4. None of the above


  3. Which statement is true?

    1. Shelton and Kevin were safety patrols and part of the National Honor Society
    2. Shelton had an endomorph build and Kevin had a mesomorph build
    3. Shelton and Kevin walked to school together
    4. Shelton and Kevin were both safety patrols and on the honor roll


  4. How many days was Kevin assigned to be Steve’s escort?

    1. 3 days
    2. 8 days
    3. 5 days
    4. 6 days


  5. Why was Ms. Pettis suspicious about Steve in the beginning?

    1. She saw Steve push a kid in the office and asked him to stop
    2. She’s the principal and can easily pick up on these things
    3. She had prior knowledge
    4. Steve’s mother told her that he liked to bully other children


  6. Which sequence of events is correct?

    1. First, Steve met the office staff. Second, Ms. Pettis assigned Kevin to be Steve’s escort. Third Steve started bullying Kevin.
    2. First, Ms. Pettis assigned Kevin to be Steve’s escort. Second, Steve met Kevin and Shelton. Third, Steve began to bully Kevin.
    3. First, Ms. Pettis assigned Kevin to be Steve’s escort. Second, Steve met the office staff. Third, Steve began to bully Kevin.
    4. First, Steve met the office staff. Second, Ms. Pettis assigned Shelton to be Steve’s escort. Third, Steve began to bully Kevin.


  7. Steve weighed 155 lbs. how much did Kevin weigh?

    1. 125lbs.
    2. 130lbs.
    3. 110lbs.
    4. 120lbs.


  8. Which statement is correct?

    1. Ms. Pettis wanted her staff to monitor Steve’s behavior carefully so that he didn’t feel uncomfortable.
    2. Ms. Pettis wanted a daily update on Steve’s behavior because she had prior knowledge of his bullying.
    3. Ms. Pettis started to wear military fatigues so she could hide in the bushes outside Steve’s class to watch him.
    4. Ms. Pettis looked closely at the cameras whenever Steve’s class was in motion.


  9. Why did Kevin begin to cry uncontrollably?

    1. He was upset because he didn’t get the bike he wanted.
    2. He had to relive the horrible experiences that he had gone through with Steve.
    3. He was upset because his mom and dad had divorced and they were forced to live in a shelter.
    4. He was called to the office during his favorite subject.


  10. Pretend you are Kevin from the story. Remember you cannot resort to violence to ever resolve a problem. Write a story and explain what you would have done if Steve had been bullying you.

    11. _________________________________________________________________________________________________



  11. Do you feel safe at your school? Who are the adults you would go to if you were bullied at school? List 5 adults and their room number.

1._____________________________________________________
2._____________________________________________________
3._____________________________________________________
4._____________________________________________________
5._____________________________________________________