Students at Clearview Elementary received a unique lesson in bullying courtesy of a theatre performance by CLIMB Theatre on Thursday.

 

Bullying in schools is still prevalent, and according to recent statistics from the National Bullying Prevention Center, more than one in four kids say they’ve experienced bullying. CLIMB Theatre from Inver Grove Heights is on a mission to change that.

 

The trio of traveling actors taught kindergarten through second grade students how to identify and prevent bullying behavior. In their original play, “Jays Away,” the actors, along with several puppets, play birds that live in a tree named Big Ben. In the story, the cowbird is bullied by a group of blue jays and then helped by her friend the robin. 

 

When a new bird moves in and begins to bully the robin, the cowbird just stands by, unsure of what to do. In the end, they both learn to support each other and stand up to the bullies with the help of Big Ben.

 

CLIMB Theatre created the skit to address what bullying actually is in terms young children can understand, including the difference between tattling and reporting. 

 

During the interactive play the students watched, mesmerized, as the story unfolded, and excitedly joined in singing the whippoorwill and robin songs when asked to. They were also able to stand up, jump around, and “help” answer some of the birds’ questions. Before the play started the actors were out mingling with the kids.

 

It’s important for kids to understand what bullying is early on. Schools like Clearview are attempting to help their students understand what it means to be kind and stand up for others, not just be a bystander. 

 

Clearview Principal Sheri Rutar said the school recently spent a month talking about how we can be good friends and not be bullies, and even created an anti-bullying pledge chain together. They had different activities all month, which culminated in CLIMB Theatre coming in to perform a play for the third through sixth graders in December. Today’s event was the same message for the younger students.

 

CLIMB Theatre is an award-winning, nationally recognized non-profit company that has provided programing to students through grade 12 for over 40 years. They have seven skits they perform which include bullying prevention, diversity and racism, recycling and environmental conservation and self-control. They’re able to cater the skits to the age group they’re performing for. 

 

Along with performing, they also have teaching groups that come into the classroom for more personalized learning. Their work is made possible through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant. To find out more about CLIMB Theatre visit their website at climb.org.

 

Ricky Morisseau, one of the CLIMB Theatre actors, stated, “Our mission is to use the art of theatre to inspire change and help the next generation.”