School Days - What Will Your Child Learn?

As a new school year begins, Parents maybe you might want to read this story to your children and ask them---“do you ever feel like some of the classmates don’t like you?” Bullying at school has become a very life changing event in a child’s life. Make sure Parents that your children know they can come to you and share their fears and confusions as they go out into this new world of school.

The Story of Itty Bitty

About 60 years ago, in the country of Somewhere, in the town of Almost There—lived a family whose last child was a little bit of nothing—and so they nick- named her Itty Bitty.

“Itty Bitty!” Can you imagine—hearing all her other brothers and sisters all seven of them calling loudly—“Itty Bitty where are you?” Not knowing what they wanted her for—Itty Bitty tried to stay hidden and out of their way. Older sisters can be bossy and older brothers like to tease.

Today was a new beginning, a big day, very scary—as for the first time there would be school with 60 more faces that would be looking at her ----will they smile, will they laugh? She wanted to stay hidden. It was a two room school, four grades sharing the same room, and even with two sisters there-- those scary feelings settled in.

“Well who do we have here?” Teacher stood before her, a nice smile across her face.

“Itty Bitty,” she replied quietly with some hesitation, watching to see what would come next.

With a look of disbelief—who would name a child this—a voice proclaims “what kind of name is this?” Not waiting for an answer, teacher’s smile gone, she sternly demands---“What is your Baptismal Name!”

“Elizabeth Johanna Marie,” Itty Bitty, spoke with head hanging down, feeling she had just been scolded and it wasn’t even her fault.

“Well that is too much of a mouthful—lets us see, oh yes, my sister’s name was Betty, so we will call you Betty—Betty Jo!

With a look of ‘good, that is done’ teacher snapped her ruler and called the class to attention for the Morning Prayer and the pledge to the flag.

And just like that Itty Bitty Betty Jo continued on her journey of life, feeling that Itty Bitty was wiped away. With a sigh of hope, the thought come into her mind. "Good, I didn’t like that name any way. Maybe Betty Jo will be someone everyone will like.”

So much for wishful thinking.

Itty Bitty Betty Jo slowly set down in her assigned seat, her head hanging down, she glanced from one side to another. Eyes were staring back, and she heard some snickering. She saw some understanding faces, but also saw some faces that were studying her, deciding what they would think about her. Because it was a small country school, each room held 4 grades which meant the older kids had already established themselves as top in the pecking order. For they too had been teased and picked on when they started school. As the years passed, they had found that the way to not be picked on was to become one of the group making fun of the new kid. She did not know this, she just felt ill at ease as this new journey in life began.

*this is a common experience that most children in life share on their first day of school.*