The Time to Teach Is Now

When I look for books to share with my students, I want to feel passionate about them and feel a connection with the text. The Fat Boy Chronicles by Diane Lang and Michael Buchanan fits this criteria for me. Many of us can think back to our youth and recall the student who was the target of jokes and teasing. In The Fat Boy Chronicles this is Jimmy, an overweight ninth grader, who writes about his freshman year in high school through a series of journal entries. I like this book not only because of the many discussions about bullying, empathy, and courage that I can image my students sharing, but also because it makes me look at my role as a teacher and think about what it means to put students first. These are a few of the most powerful points in the book for me.

• After being teased by one of the jocks in his PE class, the PE teacher looks at the boy who teased Jimmy, but he doesn't say anything to him. (p. 18)
• What do our actions as teachers say to our students?

• "Not all the kids bother me but those who don't just stand around and watch." (p. 90)
• Bystander behavior is an important part of the bullying equation. Have I taught my students their options/responsibilities if they witness another student being teased, put-down, or bullied?

• "I do okay, but it's hard when no one ever asks you to do anything. It's like I don't exist as a real kid who's interested in things." (p. 102)
• Do I notice and build relationships with each student?

• After yet another bullying incident in class, a friend of Jimmy's angrily yells at the other students, and she is sent to the principal's office. Later Jimmy is called to the principal's office. He tells the principal that the bullying has been going on for a long time and that his friend shouldn't get in trouble because she was defending him. [The principal] "agreed and said the whole thing was no big deal, but if the kids start harassing me again to let him know." (p. 121)
• Do I take the time to help all students, or do I stop short because it may take too much time or energy?

• "What Nate [the bully] says hurts but sometimes it's what people don't say that lasts longer." (p. 126)
• Have I said something, or have I stood back and hoped this too shall pass?

• Jimmy's stomach growled during science class, and the students laughed. "Mr. M [the teacher] looked at me and asked if I had a sick cat stuffed up my shirt." (p. 129)
• Do I use my words to build students up or tear them down?

We have a choice in our actions. This year, I choose to model the courage to stand against teasing, put-downs, and bullying. The time to teach is now.