Journalist and CALA Writing instructor Estelle Erasmus recently published an article in the New York Times entitled “How to Bullyproof Your Child.” In the article, Erasmus advocates for an anti-bullying method proposed by school psychologist Izzy Kalman, in which the child is taught to treat their bully as a friend rather than an enemy.
Erasmus writes, “Mr. Kalman’s strategy differs from the approach favored by many schools in several ways: It avoids labeling a child as a bully (it’s an insult, like ‘wimp’ or ‘loser’), but also advocates going to adults for advice or help with role playing. His method encourages kids to solve problems on their own rather than asking an adult to put pressure on the school to take the side of the upset child over the one identified as the ‘bully.’ He also teaches children how to handle threats and situations where they are made to feel unsafe.”
She concludes by providing examples of common bullying scenarios and approaches, which not only illustrate the differences between Mr. Kalman’s method and the reflexive response, but also act as a useful tool for parents hoping to utilize this method with their children. The article was widely-circulated upon its release in May 2019 and received its own segment on Good Morning America the following week, where the hosts discussed the contents of the article with Erasmus as well as Mr. Kalman himself.
Read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/23/well/family/how-to-bullyproof-your-child.html
And check out Erasmus’ feature on Good Morning America: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/Family/video/teach-kids-address-teasing-63367176
This Fall, Estelle Erasmus will be teaching WRITING MIDLIFE AND BEYOND: https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/courses/WRIT1-CE9800-writing-midlife-and-beyond.html
Registration is now open, so don’t delay!