Stop Bullying!/ ¡Alto al bullying! - Softcover

Stop Bullying!/ ¡Alto al bullying! was co-written by third-grade students from the Enos Garcia Elementary School in Taos, New Mexico, and their teachers, Christine Pacheco y Petralina Medina.

Stop Bullying!/ ¡Alto al bullying! es producto de la labor de los estudiantes de tercer grado de la escuela primaria Enos García de Taos, Nuevo México así como de sus maestras Christine Pacheco y Petralina Medina.

Taos Municipal Schools Visiting Artists Program
New Mexico Public Education Department

Why a book about bullying?

Not a fun topic, indeed, but bullying is still prevalent in our schools and its effects can persist way into adulthood. Research has shown that it may begin as early as preschool and can intensify later in life during transitional stages like adolescence. It has also shown how victims are affected physically and emotionally, resulting in issues like low self-esteem and depression, which last for many years.

To prevent this behavior and its consequences, many schools have developed a variety of programs and activities to raise awareness about bullying as well as its effects and causes. In October 2014, the Enos Garcia Elementary School students watched a series of cartoon characters that dealt with bullying. Later, they discussed the stories with school counselor Rose Liceti and their teachers.

That was when I decided that my Visiting Artist project this year should be related to the topic of bullying. Third-grade students, with the help of their teachers Petralina Medina and Christine Pacheco, wrote short plays, in English or Spanish (they were given the chance to choose the language they were more comfortable with) about bullying. The plays included topics like how to stand up for others and for themselves, the importance of respecting diversity, and how to deal with and report improper behavior. They used their own words and characters based on people they knew, or composites of them, or simply their imagination. This book is the result of their efforts.

Both teachers reported a decrease in bullying incidents in the classroom and the schoolyard while the students were working on their plays.

The plays will be staged later on and, hopefully, broadcast by local TV station Channel 22 for the entire Taos community.

Teresa Dovalpage, Ph.D.