Bullies had better watch their back.
If they don’t smarten up sharpish, Mr. Troll will track them down and use his hypnotic powers to cure them of their ills.
And if it’s Mr. Troll’s day off, they best keep an eye out for The Champ, who will be there directly to teach them a thing or two about social responsibility, including allowing a kid to play basketball, no matter what colour of shorts he’s wearing.
Whatever plan the bullies have in mind, the Grade 4 and 5 students in teacher Carlos Victoria’s combined class at Westwind elementary have it covered with anti-bullying messages, courtesy of characters from their annual Comic Con.
It’s only the second year that Victoria has used the Comic Con to tick many of the curriculum boxes.
And with the second of the three-day event landing this year on Pink Shirt Day, the students decided to create and “publish” special anti-bullying editions and trading cards of their fictional characters.
“It’s about social responsibility and that you can’t judge people by what they’re wearing,” said 10-year-old Grade 5 student Devon Sales-Parno of his comic The Adventures of the Champ.
“This kid isn’t allowed to play basketball because he’s wearing pink shorts.
“But The Champ comes in and says to the person that’s stopping the kid playing basketball that they have to ‘grow some social responsibility.’
“The person realizes they’ve done something wrong and the kid in the pink shorts is allowed to play.”
Sentiments of “being brave” and “standing up for yourself” were also prevalent throughout the rest of students’ anti-bullying special editions and cards, which will be handed out to the rest of the school on Pink Shirt Day on Feb. 22.
Victoria said a question and answer session at the beginning of the school year with his new students — and a few returning ones — revealed a burning desire to the do the Comic Con again.
“It was the first things they asked,” said an excited Victoria.
“And the kids who asked weren’t the ones who were in the class last year.”
It all started, explained Victoria, when a couple of students wanted to start a comic club and wanted him to be their sponsor teacher.
“Last year, we had to put persuasive writing on the back burner to do it; this year, I incorporated it by getting them to write to the Richmond News, to persuade them to come out to see us again.”
Victoria then gathered all the kids together and asked them how they might incorporate an anti-bullying message into the Comic Con, with Pink Shirt Day falling in the middle of their “convention.”
“Straight away, one of the kids suggested we do anti-bullying themed comics,” he said.
“That’s the value of feeling valued and being involved. Everyone’s opinions are respected.”
It’s that level of inclusion that Victoria agrees goes a long way to boosting kids’ self-esteem and confidence, the absence of which are common in kids — and even adults — that become the victims of bullying.
“(Inclusion) is the most basic link between what we’re doing and anti-bullying,” said Victoria.
“A big part of the curriculum are the core competencies, or skills. The Comic Con allows the kids to see what those skills are. The Comic Con hits all six of the core competencies and it gives the kids a lot of confidence.
“It also creates a strong sense of classroom community and that also helps (to combat bullying).
“The great thing is that this is all coming from them; it’s amazing to see them coming up with this stuff.”
