Hero’s Journey of Vivian Elementary School in Lakewood, CO

October 6, 11:04 PMSchool Conflict Resolution ExaminerDebbie Dunn

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Congratulations to Vivian Elementary School in Lakewood, Colorado. This school is taking a strong stand against bullying. Read the story of their hero’s journey.

Introduction

Joseph Campbell, the author of “The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” teaches the process of taking a hero’s journey. Many books, movies, and other projects have been based on this journey. I based a large part of my conflict resolution curriculum called the 3 C’s: Conflict Resolution, Character Education, and Communication Skills on the hero’s journey approach.

As I discover schools, organizations, and people taking a stand against bullying, we will learn more about their particular hero’s journey.

     The 5 W’s of the Ordinary World

Who: Vivian Elementary School
Where: Lakewood, Colorado
When: Weekly discussions
What: Students and staff discuss bullying on a weekly basis
Why: After the tragic 1999 school shootings that took place 12 miles from where Vivian Elementary is located, this elementary school knows the value of learning how to constructively deal with bullies.

     Call to Adventure

On any hero’s journey, a Call to Adventure or a Call to Action is issued. Naturally, the hero has two choices. He or she or they can accept their Call to Adventure and embark on their hero’s journey. Or they can attempt to refuse the Call to Adventure.

Sometimes, whether they want to or not, a hero is forced into going on this journey anyway. For example, all but two of the students of Columbine High School had no way of knowing when they entered their school building back in April of 1999 that a Call to Adventure was going to be issued. Once the first shot was fired, the whole country was galvanized into a Call to Action to work to avoid any more school shootings in the future.

In the Principal’s Corner section of the September Newsletter for Vivian Elementary School, Rita Throckmorton states, “This year we are implementing PBS (Positive Behavior System) to complement our Bully Proofing Program.” She urges parents to ask their child how they will demonstrate S.O.A.R. behaviors. The acronym S.O.A.R. stands for:

Successful Students are Safe
Own their Behavior
Achieve Academic Excellence
Respectful

Therefore, the students’ Call to Adventure is to work hard to display S.O.A.R. behaviors. The Call to Adventure for their parents is to ask their children to explain what this means and how it will look. The Call to Adventure for the teachers, administrators, and staff is to teach their students how to be bully-proofed. They need to be able to recognize when this behavior is being properly enacted. They need to be able to be vigilant at any signs of abuse taking place. They also need to be able to mediate conflict between individuals.

     Cross First Threshold

One of the ways this school is working to make certain students get over the threshold of being more informed and aware of how to deal with bullies is the weekly one-hour meetings held throughout the school. As stated by Washington Post reporter Valerie Strauss in her article called ‘More schools taking a stand against bullying’, “Every child from kindergarten through sixth grade — and all of the adults in the school — learn how to identify bullying behaviors and how to stand up to a bully without inflaming the situation.”

When so many schools feel the pressure to meet the expectations of the No Child Left Behind policy, that is amazing that a school would actually dedicate one hour weekly for this endeavor. Perhaps it is because the adult personnel of this school realize that academics can only be strong if children feel safe to come to school. How can children concentrate on academics if they are worried that the moment they step away from a teacher’s watchful eye, they are going to be bullied?  So kudos to a school recognizing the importance of sending the message that bullying is not acceptable behavior for any of their students to display.

     Approach to the Inmost Cave

As the students of Vivian Elementary School approach the Inmost Cave, they are armed with three very important tools.  Principal Rita Throckmorton describes these three tools in their October newsletter.

As reported by the principal, the students spent their first assembly learning about “Positive Behavior expectations as well as strategies on how to problem solve when confronted with Bully Behaviors.” They learned how to do this by watching some magic tricks conducted by Mr. Eisenberg. These magic tricks “challenged students to think about how they communicate with one another. Are they using their words to be hurtful or helpful?”

The second tool that will help the student body to survive their journey through the Inmost Cave is that several fourth, fifth, and sixth graders will act as the 2009-2010 Ambassadors. The principal explains that these student Ambassadors will “act as leaders and role models.” They will “support our positive school environment, follow our bully-proofing policies and support school spirit.”

The third tool, sponsored by the schools’ PTA, will happen on October 19, 2009. Mike Harris, an Investigator for the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office will teach grades K-3 kids about Stranger Danger. He will teach grades 4-6 kids about internet and cell phone safety. That evening, he will talk to parents and teachers about Internet safety and cell phone concerns. Armed with this special knowledge, the students, teachers, staff, and parents connected with Vivian Elementary Schools should be able to successfully survive their journey through the Inmost Cave.

     Supreme Ordeal

Being bullied is a Supreme Ordeal for any child. The next worst thing is to be a bystander or witness of this bullying. If, as a bystander, you attempt to stop the bullying, you might fear that the bully will begin to bully you. Another fear is that you could get physically or emotionally hurt if you attempt to intervene. A third fear is that if you report the bullying, you could be labeled as a tattler, a snitch, or as one of those goody-goody types.

How does Vivian Elementary School deal with the issue of bystanders?

As stated by Washington Post reporter Valerie Strauss, “students are taught that being a bystander is not acceptable. They are expected to help victims whenever they see bullying behavior.”

She also quotes Kim Jones, a teachers’ aide and parent of three daughters who attended Vivian Elementary. Mrs. Jones states, “A key to success is making sure kids know they are responsible for helping victims.” Mrs. Jones goes on to explain, “The person who is exhibiting the bullying behaviors is looking for power and control. And the real power comes from strength in numbers. There can be no bystanders. We teach them that together they have more power than the bully does.”

     The Road Back

The part of the Hero’s Journey known as “The Road Back” might make you feel that the danger is over and there is no longer a need to be vigilant or concerned. According to Joseph Campbell, there are still dangers to be faced. This is not a time to relax your guard.

Vivian Elementary School seems to be very aware of this point. As reported by Washington Post reporter Valerie Strauss, one of the keys to the program’s success is that “the lessons don’t last for a month or two. They are given for the entire school year.” The school is also aware that they may not be able to put a total stop to acts of bullying; however, they can at least reduce those acts considerably.

     Resurrection & Return with the Elixir

It is too soon to know how the hero’s journey of Vivian Elementary School will end. The students are being armed with useful knowledge. Since much of bullying begins in elementary school and gets carried on to middle school and high school and beyond, there is a better chance that these particular students can “return with the elixir” of knowledge and know-how of how to appropriately deal with bullies. They will be less likely to be a bully or to tolerate bullying going on around them. So as these students mix and mingle with students from other feeder schools, perhaps their middle school and high school will have a more harmonious and safer school atmosphere.

What is the Resurrection of their particular Hero’s Journey? It is the resurrection of hope that all their hard work and vigilance will pay off currently and in the future that there will be several fewer bullies in their part of the country.

Resources:
More schools taking a stand against bullies by Valerie Strauss. WASHINGTON POST. Posted: 10/05/2009
The Hero with a Thousand Faces (first published in 1949) by Joseph Campbell
Vivian Elementary School website
Vivian Eagles September Newsletter for Vivian Elementary School
Vivian Eagles October Newsletter for Vivian Elementary School