Poetry Break - Serious Issue

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Woodson, Jacqueline. 2003. Locomotion. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 9780399231155

INTRODUCTION:
This poem describes a boy’s first day in a new class where he is different from the other students. As a result, he is made fun of by the class and some of the boys gossip about him. Unfortunately, teasing and bullying happens daily in our schools. Before reading this poem, you may choose to share about a time when you were teased as a child. If you do not what to share your own story, you can tell a story about a bully you knew either as a student or from your teaching experience. If you share a recent experience, please do not include your current students or anyone that they may know. Reading this poem may be beneficial for a class that is having a problem with teasing among several or all of the students. Most students will likely relate to the words as a person who has been teased, a person who has done the teasing, or both.

New Boy (by Lonnie Collins Motion)
by Jacqueline Woodson

New boy comes in our classroom today
Ms. Marcus says
Say good morning, Clyde, and the new boy says
Good Mornin’, Y’all
and the whole class falls out laughing
so hard, Ms. Marcus taps her pointer on the desk,
her face so mad it’s purple
R-e-s-p-e-c-t, she says
Respect! we repeat the way
she taught us to - a thousand times ago.

New boy’s looking down at the floor
looks real sad, says I’m sorry ma’am
and the class tries hard not to laugh
but some laugh spills out of us anyway.
You’ve nothing to be sorry about, Ms. Marcus says.

Lamont whispers He should be sorry he’s so country
Eric says Look at his country clothes
New boy knows
they’re whispering about him,
puts one foot behind his leg
like he wants to crawl right inside himself.
He’s wearing high-water pants, light blue socks,
a white shirt
buttoned all the way up
tight around his neck
Check
Eric says
Check out his country hat
New boy’s holding the hat in his hands
Granddaddy hat in his hands the kind
With the black band going around the gray felt
New boy looking like he wish he could
Just melt right on outa the room.


EXTENSION:
Due to the nature of this poem, it is a good idea to make time for a lengthier extension activity. After reading this poem, have the students briefly write about a time that they were teased, then have them write about a time that they teased someone else (even if they thought it was just for fun). They do not need to share their writing with anyone. Once they have reflected on these situations, they will be more prepared to discuss the topic of bullying and teasing. Have the students share feelings that they felt or cause another to feel because of teasing, and record these words on the board or in a place that is visible. Now ask the students to help make a new list - one of emotions they like to feel. Have a class discussion about how they can make others feel better about themselves and experience the emotions they like, rather than those associated with teasing and bullying. Although this share time could be very cathartic, if you anticipate that the group may not handle this extension activity as a group, the students can make their lists of feelings, write about their experiences, and reflect as individuals without sharing what they think, feel, write, etc.