Posted on 11/27/2012 4:02:52 PM PST by rawhide
PALM BAY, Fla. — For most of Acacia Woodley's 10 years, she has noticed people staring at her and, at times, whispering about her.
The sixth-grader at Palm Bay Elementary School has learned to stand up for herself. Born without a right hand and a deformed left one, she has embraced what she calls her "difference." It's part of what makes Acacia, Acacia.
"Some people say they feel sorry for me. I tell them not to be," she said. "I don't care that I'm different. I like that I'm different."
Moving from the Caribbean to South Carolina, then to Arizona, and finally Florida, Acacia realized there were bullies everywhere.
After arriving in Brevard, she decided to do something about it. She proposed a place where anyone could go when they need a friend, when they could use some support or reassurance. Or even a hug.
A "friendship bench."
If a student sits on the bench, it's a signal to classmates — and nearby adults — it's time to become a friend. Acacia borrowed the idea from something she'd seen in South Carolina.
Acacia's first friendship bench sits in the Palm Bay Elementary School lobby, a brightly painted, Adirondack-stye place to sit.
So far, it's been put to good use and has proven such a popular idea that other schools are inquiring about one, too.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
/johnny
“Honey, little Johnny is in the blotter again!!”
..........
Or maybe your school paper created the blotter just for you?
you’ve probably forgotten how kids act. or you were not the ones being picked on.
I suppose it’s because we share a gender, and I’m struck that while there are expectations that we groom ourselves, this girl meets all of them naturally! And Bo Derek has always epitomized pulchritude to me.
Ugh! I really ought to snap out of the habit of explaining myself to all and sundry.
Bo Derek is no role model for kids at all
I can’t find a picture of her. Would like to see this sweet kid.
I don’t see a photo of her at the article, what are you all looking at? lol
You don’t see her pic on the first post?
I can describe her for you. Standard issue skinny blond 10 year old with glasses, weird smug smile, no right hand, left hand there but not normal.
Looks like a kid to me. She'd be taller if they hadn't turned so much under for foot, but that goes with that age group.
She wouldn't get any slack around here on doing dishes.
/johnny
I googled. She is cute, and more importantly she’s got spunk and drive. so, go girl!
Why would another school need to “inquire” about putting a bench in the corner/hallway??
You some kind of anarchist radical?
/johnny
/johnny
Somehow I believe it
That's why this story pings my heartstrings. She's got a problem, but she's coping with the tools she has. Hard for a grandpa that loves fighters not to mist up about that.
/johnny
My dad was in the Navy so we moved around a lot and as a result, my parents’ culture influenced me more than the school herd mentality. I was always the new kid (we moved on average every one and a half years because of my dad’s speciality) and so I learned different values.
My parents were cultural Christians and one of the things we did was befriend the kids who were bullied and all of us knew how to fight so it was not a good idea to continue the bully game with our friends.
Christians who teach their children to live by the example of Jesus and His power really can influence the place where they are. Humanists are trying to change the meaning of “bullying” to anyone who is politically incorrect -disagrees with them or any group who they hate. They use that as an excuse to define “victims” and to organize and condone victimhood and p.c. bullying which is now violent.
LOL!
"He's sooo good looking."
.
"And smart too!"
.
"I wish he'd be my friend."
.
"Me too."
High school was the roughest six years of my life.
I am offended, my bench was always the one in the hallway and my chair was always in the corner! I never understood putting the ADHD kid out in the hallway, unsupervised, alone...served my teacher right when I decided I was bored and walked home.
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