Caren Krutsinger Poet Free verse

A Bystander a Downstander and An Upstander

Up-standers ask a bully to please stop.
But not in a bullying voice.
Understand?
Head nod.

Down-standers join the bully.
They call the victim names too
Scared they will be the next target if they do not.
Cowards.

By-standers stand by,
Trying to ignore what is happening, feeling badly later
Wishing they had been an up-stander. 
So what do you want to be?

An Up-Stander, a Down-Stander or a By-Stander?

“I want to be a run-a-way-er,” he said, demonstrating.

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Bernard Chan February 14, 2019 at 5:06 PM Such a memorable way to sum up what bullying brings out in people. Great write! Caren Krutsinger February 15, 2019 at 3:02 AM Thank you so much. I teach these three terms - my own of course - to my students at school. My job is to teach them to have integrity, be nice, and be up-standers.

Michelle Faulkner February 11, 2019 at 10:31 PM A great lesson from a great counselor - hope that kid learned something! Caren Krutsinger February 11, 2019 at 11:58 PM I teach this lesson every year to my 2nd graders, and I make the 5th and 6th graders write a story about it so I can share their stories with the Kindergarteners and First graders. They all know what I expect.

M. L. Kiser February 11, 2019 at 6:54 PM Ooh, watch him sprint! Caren Krutsinger February 11, 2019 at 11:58 PM Truthfully, I cannot catch them when they run that fast!