The Animal School Bullies

By: Dr. Ed Frierson

Narrated by: Eddie Frierson

How does a classroom, a school, a community become bully-free? A powerful contribution can be made by a story that everyone can listen to. This is such a story.

This wisdom tale tells the story of how an animal school was transformed from a place where some students were teased (by F.O.X), intimidated (by Little Bull), maligned (by "Princess" Peacock), ostracized (Cathy Crow), belittled (Master Worm), abused (Maurice Mole), and unfairly castigated by faculty (Hunky Hyena) to a bully-free environment. The tale will stimulate discussion and the participation of human students, including the bullied and the bystanders, toward the development of a bully free school.

Animal School students are different from each other. They walk, fly, swim, burrow, hop, swoop, slither and tunnel. They grunt, squawk, bellow, chirp, splash, howl, and gobble. Yet, as with humans, all the students have the same basic needs: to belong, to be cared about, to be appreciated, to have their unique abilities developed to the fullest. Creative ideas (e.g., The Paradoxideal Totem Pole) and practical actions (e.g., The Covenant Circle) along with the involvement of "The Elders" (e.g., Wisdom Council) offer patterns for human schools to consider. The story "strikes a chord" with upper elementary and middle school students. Fascination with the animals permits students to become engaged in the issue without blaming and withdrawing. New understandings, attitudes, and relationships lead toward the goal of a bully-free school. It's a great listen! A discussion guide is available with quantity purchases.

©2015 Dr. Ed Frierson (P)2019 Eddie Frierson and DWAR38 Productions

WHAT WONDERFUL CHARACTERS AND LESSONS!

This title seems to me to be something that EVERY educator should make available to students and faculty of any school that is experiencing bullying of any kind. The characters are wonderful and each animal represents a different characteristic of persons that we are all familiar with. Dr. Ed Frierson and woven a simple tale of transformation in the "Animal School" that is relevant for any school classroom or district anywhere. Highly recommended. I would even say that the print version should be available in bulk at every school and for every school board in the nation or around the world I am not one for high praise of this kind but knowing some who have been on the short end of the bullying spectrum, this tale gives hope. A terrific listen for teachers and kids of all ages. YOU can make the change happen!