Local teachers use book and movie to combat bullying

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Bullying is an age old problem. Teachers like Kirbe Northam and Kelsey Frantz at Murrayville Elementary are trying to make it a thing of the past. Both say they were bullied as kids and they see the problem continue today.

“We were talking about a novel that we wanted to read with our students. What would be influential to them? What would impact them and then we saw that the movie ‘Wonder’ was coming out,” Kelsey Frantz said.

“Wonder” is also a book that the students read. The story is about a boy born with a facial deformity who is mercilessly bullied at school.

“It’s just a really good way for us to teach our children about bullying and how it’s not okay. And also how it does affect people their age and things like that,” Kirbe Northam said.

Each morning, Northam and Frantz teach a lesson to reinforce the problems with bullying and encourage discussion among the students.

“They get a lot of those lessons first thing in the morning. They’re able to apply throughout their day and reflect back on. We’ll be in math and something will be said and the kids will be like ‘oh my goodness, that reminds me of this situation in Wonder’ and it’s just- it’s amazing what these kids have done with this book,” Northam said.

“Being able to connect connect and just seeing how the students feel comfortable enough to share that stuff with not only me but their other 25 other classmates in their class is really amazing,” Frantz said.

Both teachers will take their fourth grade classes to see the movie adaptation of “Wonder” this Saturday at the Pointe at Barclays as a bonus lesson outside of the classroom.