1.11.09

Im Enlisch-LK Klasse 12 bei Frau Bischoff gab es eine Hausaufgabe: Eine Rede in englischer Sprache schreiben. Monique Menkenhagen hat einen sehr eindrucksvollen Text geschrieben, der den Wahlkampf-Slogan Barack Obamas aufgreift: Yes we can! B.W.

Dear pupils,

as you might have noticed, our school has a new guideline:

„Schule ohne Mobbing,

Yes we can.”

This is the slogan,

painted on a huge poster,

coloured,

in front of our school,

for everyone to see.

When I saw this poster the first time,

I just laughed.

Not because of the message, it tries to tell us,

but because I thought  it was impossible.

One school,

more than 160 teachers,

more than 2200 pupils,

and no bullying?

Yes we can?

This would mean, that more than 2300 individuals would have to accept each other;

with all differences,

with all cultures,

with all attitudes.

I think I’m not the only one, who thought this is impossible.

But if everyone believes it is impossible, then it is.

Isn’t that cheerless?

Isn’t that far too easy?

Of course you can say it’s a big school, it isn’t possible, so we don’t even have to try,

But isn’t that far,

far too easy?

What if we can?

What if we do?

If everyone in this school opened their eyes.

If every single teacher went into his room with open eyes and react.

If every fifth, every sixth, every seventh, eight, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth grader went through this school with open eyes and react.

And THINK about what he says and what he does!

What would this school be like?

Wouldn’t it be a damn good feeling, to go here and know:

There’s no one in here, who is scared of his classmates.

There’s no one in here, who is scared of the pupils of the class next door.

There’s no one in here, who is scared of any pupil in this school.

What would that be like?

Wouldn’t it be a damn good feeling?

It would not only be a good feeling for the victims, but for everyone.

The most people, who bully others, are the ones who are scared to be bullied, if they don’t show their “strength”, their power to wear others down.

They often are the ones with the lowest self esteem and the most fear of not being accepted. So they bully the people who seem to stand lower than they do.

So they get the feeling of not being on the lowest level in this mass of people.

But if we stand together, they don’t have to do this.

Everyone could be respected.

We don’t have to love each other, but we could make this school a friendlier place.

It would be a damn good feeling for everyone.

If all of you stood up from your PC with the aim to stop bullying,

if all of you stood up from your PC and show your courage to others and talk to the ones, who bully,

if all of you stood up from your PC and tell the others: YES WE CAN, then we can.

Monique Menkenhagen