Be the Peace!

Youth-focused anti-bullying work is building peace

Playback Memphis has delivered an anti-bullying program for elementary and middle school students since 2011. Through Be the Peace!, students learn what bullying is, why and how it is harmful, and how witnesses to bullying can help put an end to it.

Be the Peace! is also a meaningful journey for young people to increase self and social awareness and to build relational trust through the practice of Playback theatre.

In Be the Peace! we invite students to reflect on things that have happened in their lives and how they felt when those things happened. We invite students to share personally with others and to see their stories “played back” by a team of trained actors. Take a look at the curriculum for each performance:

Be the Peace! Anti-Bullying Program

Topic: Bullying in school (also known as harassment or peer cruelty)

General Goals:

1. Students will learn what bullying is, why and how it is harmful, and how witnesses to bullying can help put an end to it.
2. Students will implement the actions they learn in order to reduce bullying.

Objectives:

Students will learn:

• What’s actually happening when bullying takes place. How bullying is different from fighting.
• How bullying can harm everyone.
• How bullying takes place in adult society as well as between kids.
• Specific actions that witnesses can take to address bullying.
• How these actions can apply to direct and indirect bullying, including cyberbullying.
• How students can help build a school climate of safety and respect.
• Students will apply new understanding and knowledge, taking action as witnesses to address bullying.

Methodology and Procedure

In this adaptation of Playback theatre to address bullying, members of a professional Playback Theatre company carry out one-hour performances with up to 50 students at any grade level. Performances teach students about bullying and provide the opportunity for them to speak about their experiences as witnesses, victims, and bullies. Their stories are enacted on the spot, providing affirmation, reflection, and the chance to explore constructive actions.

In the Performance model a team of performers carries out a series of one-hour shows (up to three per day) for specific grade levels or a mixed group of up to 50 students (30 is more ideal).

Call 901-264-0841 or click here to discuss bringing Playback to your school.

In the News

Be the Peace! has been featured on WREG’s Bright Spot.  You can also check out the article in High Ground News here, and see how we are tackling bullying at Treadwell Middle.