Scholastic News Sticky Situation • February 15-22, 2010

Patricia is on the playground when she sees a group of older boys threatening Jonathan, a new boy at school. One of the boys tells Patricia to watch as he trips Jonathan. Other kids on the playground laugh and point as Jonathan falls to the ground. Patricia feels bad for Jonathan, but she doesn't want the older boys to bother her. What should Patricia do?

Write a paragraph explaining what you think Patricia should do in the "Post a comment" section below.

Other Scholastic News readers will be posting their thoughts about this week's ethical dilemma, too. So come back to the Sticky Situation blog to discuss their solutions!

Comments

[Darlene G.]

I think Patricia tell the teacher beacause at my school they say "Tell someone if another person get bullied or hurt".That's what I think she should do.

[Tiffany L.]

I think that Patricia should tell the bullies," Hey! Why do you have to pick on him like that huh? That's just not nice!" Or she could tell a teacher that the bullies are picking on Jonathan.

[Frog-Luvr]

She should tell a teacher or princaple!!

[chris s]

She should tell the techer.If the techer is not outside on the playground tell the bullys to stop.If the bullys do not stop.Go inside to tell the techer.

[Mazzyw]

Patricia shold tell a techer . Then she wold not get haert . And she miet be friends with jonathan . The older boys will get in trobel . I thank they shold get sent home for the rest of the week .

[Sterling . C]

Patrica should tell the boys to stop being bullies. If it still happens tell the teacher. If it still happens they should get expelled .If it still happens Patrica get in trouble. If it still happens she could get expelled because if you do not tell you could get in trouble.

[Jada B.]

I think Patrica should ask the older boys to stop and not to bother them anymore.If it still happens then she should go tell her teacher. If it still happens she should go tell their teacher. If it still happens then she should go tell the princepal.If it still happens then she should go tell the princepal that they should get suspended. Jonathan should thank patrica and they should become friends.

[Tasha K]

I think Patricia should tell on the bully. I think the bullies need to be suspended. If Patricia doesn't tell on them they might end up hurting other children. Patricia might also become the target of the bullies if they aren't stopped.

[Dharma S.]

Dear Patricia,
i think that you should tell a teacher what is going on and tell the teacher to please not mention your name if your teacher talks to the bully or anyone else

[pamelac.]

patricia should get jonathan to tell a techer the problem,if he doesn't want to she should tell a teacher her self.

[Mikkah L.]

She should go get help.....

[Samantha C]

She should tell a teacher right away.

[Alexandra R]

I think that Patricia should go tell a teacher about her problem and what the boys did to Jonathen and get the boys in trouble. If they bother her again she ignores them. If they try to hurt her go to the princepal.

[Christyna H.]

I think that she should tell the teacher that the new kid is getting picked on.

[cotton candy]

She should tell the teacher right away!

[Hovni S]

i think patricia should tell the boys to pick on someone thier age. and if they don't stop go tell an adult. when the teacher comes out and the older boys don't still tell the truth to the teacher stare them right in the eye and yell "TELL THE TRUTH BOYS, OR YOURE GOING TO GET IN MORE AND MORE TROUBLE!!!" they won't be able to stand that so they will tell the truth, get in trouble and jonathon will be thankful to patricia so he will have a friend and he is the new student.

[Akhila. M]

i think that patricia should tell some grown up about this and ask them what they will do in such a situation or she should tell any grown up at school which can take care of the problem

[Cecelia S]

I think Patricia should tell the boys that it's not cool to be making fun of kids like that and hurting them and if they do it again,she is going to tell the teacher or principal.

[EB]

She should go tell a teacher.

[Tariek Lamar .B.]

ask them nicely to stop picking on her then if they continue she should tell some one

[miguel a]

i think patricia should tell an adult next to her or write a bully report of what they are doing to the boy also she can either stand up to the boys

[Brandon A.]

I think patricia should tell the boys to stop beacse if they don't stop they will get in trouble not only that what if the boys got pick on by a stronger person then them so it's better if they don't pick on her.

[Brooklyn P.]

I think she should take up for him.An if they mess with her go tell the taecher.

[Alexina L.]

She should go and tell a teacher. But if she doesn't want the older boys to start bothering her she should tell the teacher to please keep an eye on them. And Patrica should stay close to an adult at recess.

[karina d.]

She should go and tell a trusted adult and if those boys find out and start bothering her than she should tell the teacher what they are doing because its good to stick up for somone that is being picked on or bothered with. it doesnt make you cool to pick on someone.

[Justin Bieber]

I think she should tell a teacher

[someone]

i think she should stay away from them.

[Samantha.c]

I think Alexis should be herself and she will be fine and also play the Tuba

[Samantha.c]

Ithink she should tell the Jonathon to whatch out and so the boys dont bother her after that she should tell the teacher

[George W]

tell the boys to stop and if that doesn't wortell the A.teacher/B.Parent or adult on the plaground to make the boys stop.

Simple

[Olivia G]

I think Patricia should go tell an adult ammedietly before anything.What the boys are doing to Jonathan is called bullying last time i checked.
if i was Partricia i would also report to the principal that you saw bullies threatening a new student to make sure that it wouldint happen again.Thats what Partricia should do. [:

[Rosalie H.]

I would have ran over there and say "Stop picking on him and pick on someone your own size and leave the poor boy alone and scram. I know you could beat me up but I am not afraid. If you beat me up, fine. I dont care. If thats what it takes for you bullies to Jonathan alone, fine, go right at me." Then i would scoot past them to Jonathan and help him.

[Angela E.]

I think Patricia should not laugh and she should tell the older boys that they should not trip Jonathan. She should not be afrsid to stick up for people. Instead of her just watching she should do something about it. That's just like watching a sick person try to get to the hospital and you tell them "I hope you can make" You shouldn't say nothing if you know that you are not going to help. So instead of Patricia just not doing anything she should just stick up for him.

[Ashley W 3c]

Patrica should just tell them to scream and say BACK OFF and if they tease her she should tell the teacher in the playground.

[charles b.]

i think patricia should tell a adult if they lay a finger on her.

[Maggie W.]

I think Patrica should tell a teacher. But ask the teacher not to say who told.

[MICHAEL JACKSON FAN]

she should tell the teacher or an adult who will teach the boys a lesson.

[Leonardo B]

she could stand up for herself

[Imma B]

I think she shold tell the princapal.

[Nick d.]

i think the girl shouldent have even watch the boy when the boy told her to look at him trip. instead she should have stood up to the boys and say STOP!Or tell a teacher,supervisor,or the principal.

[hannah j.]

I think Patricia should have stood up for Jonathan and told a teacher what the boys were doing to him. They should wok together to stop bullying.

[Bridget L.]

i think she should get in there and get a parent with her as her backup and help that little guy out!

[elvis presely]

i think that patricia should stand up for the poor little boy. she shouldn't be afraid of the other kids. it would scare all the kids away.

[andrew k.]

I think the girl should have told a teacher or a supervisor instead of watching that boy get beat up by those bullies.

[Megan L]

I think Patricia should tell a super visor, or tell a responsible adult. Also, i think that she should go help Jonathon and stand up to the older kids.

[Emma M]

I think she should tell the boys to stop and she should tell an adult. When the boys tell her to watch when they hurt Jonathon she should walk away or tell them that they are making a bad choice and that they are being very mean.

[Nicolette N.]

i think that jonathan should of just got up and run to the teacher. and i also think that Particia should have told the boys to leaver him alone and go tell the Princeible

[Bridget L.]

hi i am Bridget and i have been in that situation before and a lot of people were watching me and i felt icky inside but my friend was even watching! I am so glad she helped but she got pushed around too. What if that happened to you, and what would you do?

[Cole L]

I think she should stand up for him and if that does not work she should tell an adault.

[Pablo r]

well iknow what she should do tell the principal the n she should stand up for john and then she should say stop and if were her i would tell a super visor