craigdailypress.com

Some students may have forgotten their lines, but none will forget the message they were trying to send.

Fourth-grade students at Ridgeview Elementary School partnered up to create short skits that either taught their peers how to handle a name-calling situation or what the consequences of being a name-caller are. They performed their skits for their peers Friday.

This week is national "No Name Calling Week," celebrated at Ridgeview Elementary School in a variety of ways. Kindergarten and second-grade students made bookmarks and first- and third-graders made posters.

Fourth-graders wrote and performed skits.

"We're building up their bag of skits," school counselor Shannon Samuelson said. "We're giving them strategies to avoid these situations."

"The kids got to use the persuasive writing skills they've been working on in class," Samuelson said.

One skit was a gymnastic display by three girls that ended in the cheer "Erase Out Name Calling!"

Tools to use in the face of name calling, students said, include walking away, changing the subject or agreeing with the name caller.

"You're right, I am a banana head," one student said during a skit.

Another technique included befriending a bully. One girl, who was tripped by a name caller, rummaged through her scattered papers to find a party invitation to give to the bully. After a great party, the two became friends.

Ashton Pettigrew actually roped his bully, tied his legs up and prepared to drag him out of town.

"Nobody comes to our town and calls names," he said. "This is what happens when you call names."

Students also learned that name callers stood the risk of losing privileges.

Christina M. Currie can be reached at 824-7031 or by e-mail at ccurrie@craigdailypress.com.