Primary National Strategy

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PrimaryNational Strategy
No Way! an interactive text to support the
development of childrens social, emotional and
behavioural skills. VIEW this SLIDE SHOW to
activate it. (Open the SLIDE SHOW menu and select
VIEW SHOW, or press F5.) You can click on screen
to move about the text once the show is
running. Use ESCAPE to QUIT the slide show and
return to EDIT mode.
The names, characters and situations in this
scenario are entirely fictitious. We are grateful
to the headteacher, staff and children of the
primary school who helped us by playing the parts
and enacting the scenes for the camera.
begin
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NO WAY !
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Who was involved?
What happened?
What happened afterwards?
What happened before?
How did it end?
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Dane and Kim were walking home together talking
about a TV programme. A few other kids were
walking a bit behind. Suddenly Luke and Delvin
appeared, with Karl just behind them. Luke
shouted, Well, look who it is. Dont you know by
now that this is where the real lads hang out?
What makes you think some stuck-up little keener
like you has a right to use this path? The other
kids stopped to watch. Dane looked worried and
muttered to Kim, Oh no, not again. He tried to
walk past with his eyes down. Luke and Delvin
blocked his way, with Karl behind them. They
started shouting insults at him, getting worse
and worse until they were dissing Danes mum
because she talks posh. Karl occasionally added
an insult which creased everyone up.
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Then Kim spoke up. Listen he just wants to go
home. You know there isnt another way. Karl
raised an eyebrow and Luke turned on Kim.
Whats it got to do with you, Chinky? Delvin
looked down. Kim kept amazingly cool. I want to
go home too so just let us past. Ooooooh. And
why would I want to let a couple of gay boys come
near me? Then Delvin spoke. I think your mates
trainers look a bit uncomfortable. If he asks me
nicely I might take them off his hands. Off his
feet, you mean, chipped in Karl. They all
laughed.
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Yea, ask him nicely, keener. Delvin and Luke
lunged at Dane and pushed him to the ground,
forcing him to say the words Please take my
trainers. A tear rolled down his cheek. Some of
those who had stopped to watch the show were
laughing, some smiling nervously. A couple shook
their heads and muttered while others moved on as
if nothing was happening. They rolled Dane over
and pulled both his trainers off. Then they threw
them to each other, laughing, smelled them and
pulled faces.Get mummy to wash your feet next
time, keener. I dont like my new shoes to
whiff. They ran off giving each other
high-fives. More fun tomorrow then, Karl? said
Delvin. Well see, said Karl, smiling to
himself.
Click here to see what they're thinking and
feeling.
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What are they thinking and feeling?
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This is a laugh. Luke and Delvin will do
anything I say.

good, powerful, excited
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powerful, proud of myself
I like this. Nothing gives me quite the same
feeling of being in control as this. I can make
him do whatever I say. If my dad and brother
could see me now they would know Im better than
they think.
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strong, accepted, but confused about how to
respond to Lukes racist language
I hope theres a fight. Im ready to show them
how strong I am. Why should he have everything
anyway? Look at those trainers just because
hes well off. I want them. Its good to feel
part of this lot. Perhaps they will stop picking
on me now. I dont really like it when they start
on the Chinky routine though.
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Why are they doing this to me? I wish Id never
come here. I wish I could fit in. I just want to
be the same as everyone else.

miserable, sick, feeble, humiliated
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Look at them, thinking theyre so great. None of
them would stand up to me on their own. Poor
Dane. Why do they pick on him? If I hang around
with Dane will they start on me? Better look
friendly and then maybe theyll let us past.
angry, outraged, sorry for Dane, frustrated,
powerless, uncertain

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Who was involved?
Karl
Delvin
Luke
Kim
Dane
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Karl
Karl is a popular boy and a natural leader. He
is clever and knows exactly how to manipulate
others to get them to do what he wants. This
makes him very powerful. He never gets into
trouble because he always gets other people to do
things rather than doing them himself. He lives
on the local estate. His family are quite well
off and well thought of. Teachers like him and
think he is sensible. He has never been caught
bullying.
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Luke is not very popular. Both his Dad and his
older brother push him around a lot. His Mum is
not at home. He has a very caring side and tries
to look out for his little sister who is at
nursery. He often feels angry and frustrated and
gets into a lot of trouble at school. He does
sometimes bully others and enjoys the feeling of
power he gets from it. He doesnt really care who
the target is in that sense it is nothing
personal.
Luke
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Delvin is small for his age but physically quite
strong. His Dad has just lost his job and the
family dont have much money. He is jealous of
Dane who has more. He likes fighting which makes
him feel good. He wants to be in with Karl, and
sometimes he is included, but sometimes not,
depending on how Karl is feeling. Sometimes the
others make fun of him, which he tries to laugh
off. If others have things that he doesnt, he
feels that they are showing off and asking for
it.
Delvin
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Dane
Danes family have recently moved into the
district, because his Mum has got a new job. They
live off the estate in an area known as the
posh bit of town. Dane is clever and has always
done reasonably well at school. He is good at
sports. There is nothing obviously different
about him. He has always been happy, if rather
quiet. He got on well with a small group of
friends before he moved house.
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Kim
Kim is a generally happy boy, well liked by
children and adults. He has a good number of
friends from different backgrounds. His family
live on the estate and are well thought of. He
considers himself lucky. He has been called names
a bit in the past, so he knows how it feels to be
bullied, but his supportive family have always
listened to him and helped him deal with it. He
has a good understanding of why people might
bully and on the whole feels sorry for those who
do.
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What happened before?
Karl, Luke and Delvin
Dane and Kim
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Delvin was just leaving when Karl called to him
from the cloakroom where he was larking around
with Luke. Hey, Delvin, up for a bit of fun
tonight? Delvin was surprised that Karl seemed
to be including him. Sure. Whats on? Karl
outlined his plan to give Dane a hard time on the
way home. Luke and Delvin laughed. Luke was all
for it, and said it would get Dane going if they
made fun of his snobby mother, because he was
such a mummys boy. Delvin suggested taking
Danes new trainers off him. He always has the
best of everything. Itll do him good to have a
bit of rough and tumble. Karl seemed pleased and
rewarded them both with a smile.
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Im a bit bored What can we do for a laugh?
Ill see if I can get Luke to do everything I say
and that Delvin as well. Well take the rise
out of that new kid. Thatll be a bit of fun.

bored, frustrated, wanting to feel big
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angry, frustrated

My Dad and brother have been really pushing me
around. I cant get my own back on them so why
not on somebody else? Ill show them. Who is this
Dane kid anyway? What do I care about him?
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I really want to be in with Karl and Luke. I hope
theres a fight. Im good at that and it will
make them see what a useful mate I can be. I
dont see why other kids should have stuff I
dont. Why shouldnt I take it off them?

unsure of himself, envious, afraid of being left
out
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At lunchtime in the playground Dane asks Kim if
they can walk home together. Kim agrees without
asking why.
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sick, dreading what I think will happen,
humiliated, ashamed

Why do they pick on me? Whats wrong with me? I
wish I had a friend, but nobody wants to be mates
with a loser who gets picked on. I just dont
belong here. Maybe it wont happen if I can get
Kim to walk home with me. They never seem to
bother him.
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I know why he doesnt want to walk home on his
own. I know whats happening. Why doesnt he say
anything? Karls lot are stupid. They dont
bother me. Maybe I can help Dane.

confident, hopeful, sorry for Dane, angry at Karl
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What happened afterwards?
The class
Dane
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What ideas did the class have?
What did they decide to do?
Dane didnt come to school for the next three
days. Kim told the rest of the class what had
happened and said they needed to discuss what to
do. They held a meeting. All the children had
ideas about what should happen. There was a lot
of discussion and debate.
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Dane should go to karate so he can fight back if
it happens again.
You shouldnt fight back but you should stand up
to bullies. Dane should learn how to stand up for
himself.
He should think sticks and stones may break my
bones but words will never hurt me.
One of the people who just stood and watched
should have rescued him.
He should tell the teacher and the bully should
be excluded from school.
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He should just laugh at himself with them.
We should tell the teacher so she can talk to
the bullies and make them understand how it
feels.
He should tell the bullies how it makes him
feel.
We should be kind to him even if we cant stop
the bullying. One of us could be his friend.
People who see bullying shouldnt put up with
it.
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This is the plan they agreed. Kim will be Danes
friend and the others will all support him. The
next time any of them sees bullying they will
tell the people who are bullying that they do not
like what they are doing and that they will tell
the teachers if it happens again.
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His Mum wanted to go up to school and tell the
teachers. Dane said no. He promised to go to
school next day as long as she didnt go up there
herself.
Dane eventually decided to tell his parents what
happened. His Dad told him to stand up to them
and suggested some things he could say.
Dane had time off school. He said he was
sick. His parents were worried about him. They
didnt understand why he had changed so much
since they moved.
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I dont want to tell my Mum and Dad. They will be
upset. It might make it worse. They will think
Im pathetic and that there is something wrong
with me. Its too embarrassing to tell anyone
about the things they have made me do. Kim wont
want to hang around with me any more now hes
seen how weak I am. No-one will want to be
friends with a pathetic loser like me.

ashamed, embarrassed
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scared, guilty, ashamed, miserable
I am so grateful to my Dad for trying, but I know
I wont do it. I wish I was one of those tough
boys who could - but Im just not that sort of
person. I tried before and they just laughed at
me. It made it worse and I felt even more of a
failure. I couldnt even manage to stand up for
myself. What is wrong with me? Why cant I stop
it happening? But then if I could stand up to
them it wouldnt be happening would it? Nobody
understands what it is like
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This the worst thing of all. If Mum goes up to
school theyll find out. They really will think
Im a mummys boy then. If they're punished
theyll take it out on me and it will be worse
than ever.

sick, dreading what I think will happen,
humiliated, ashamed
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Do not continue until you have found out all you
can about what happened.
Go back to find out more
Continue
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How did it end?
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Dane was pleased when he arrived back at school
to find Kim asking him to sit next to him. Some
of the other children in his class, including one
of the ones who had stood by and watched, were
quite friendly too. As the day went on he felt a
little better, but as home time approached, the
old fear returned. He had seen Karl, Delvin and
Luke whispering in corners and he knew what that
meant. He set off home, and was pleased when
several of the class arranged to walk home with
him. As they got near the park Luke and Delvin
jumped out with Karl, as always, behind them. All
the other children stopped too and looked
directly at the kids who were bullying. Kim said,
We want to walk past and we all have a right
to. Karl looked surprised. No-ones stopping
YOU, are they? But they didnt move. One of
the others said, We dont like what youre doing
- and we are going to tell the school and your
parents if you do it again. To the jeers of Luke
and Delvin, they walked past, Dane in the middle
of the group, holding his breath but they
didnt stop him.
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It would be nice to think that that was the end.
But of course real life isnt like that. Dane did
still get bullied and there wasnt always a group
to support him. In fact sometimes the actual
bullying was physically worse they jumped on
him once and he ended up with some bruises. But
somehow it didnt feel worse inside to Dane he
had Kim as his friend. He knew that the whole
class thought that he was OK and that it was the
children who had bullied him who werent. He
didnt seem to have that sick feeling about how
he wasnt good enough all the time any more.
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In the end what stopped it was after Dane ended
up with bruises. A group told the headteacher.
The head must have said or done something because
Karl came up to Dane in the playground the next
day and just stuck his hand out! He never said
sorry or anything (not really his style) but the
bullying stopped from then on. Years later,
Dane met Karl again when they were both members
at the same local football club. Karl said he
had just never realised how much it affected Dane
until the headteacher had told him the full
story. As Karl was going, he mumbled something
that could well have been Sorry.
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What do you think? How would you feel?