Students at Liverpool Elementary had a special treat Jan. 29 — a lesson about bullying rolled into a performance from one of the Harlem Globetrotters.
“Trust me — he’s almost as tall as the ceiling,” LE Principal Darcy Cangello told her students before introducing the 6’8” Julian “Zeus” McClurkin, a 28-year-old Ohio native in his rookie season with the Globetrotters.
McClurkin presented the “ABCs of Bullying Prevention” to LE students, peppering his lesson with plenty of humor and a few tricks with the ball.
“My teammates call me ‘Zeus’ because every time I dunk the ball, it sounds like thunder,” McClurkin said.
But McClurkin wasn’t always so successful on the court. The self-described “happy-go-lucky” player, who experienced bullying as a child, was cut from his school’s basketball team every year from seventh through 10th grade. When he finally made the team in his junior year of high school, people told him he was too nice to his opponents, smiling and complimenting them after the game.
“Now I actually get paid to be a nice guy,” McClurkin said.
The ABCs of Bullying Prevention, McClurkin explained, stand for action, bravery and compassion. With help from student and teacher volunteers, he gave examples of what children can do to stop or prevent bullying.
One action a student can take is to tell a teacher or another trusted adult about bullying.
“Let an adult know somebody is being bullied or is a bully,” McClurkin said.
Bravery can be as simple as walking away from the situation. McClurkin advised the students not to retaliate against bullies, which could lead to trouble for both parties. He also warned the children against spreading gossip, rumors and cyberbullying.
Finally, McClurkin promoted compassion for those who are being bullied.
“If you see someone in school and you know they’re being bullied … the number one thing you can do is be their friend for the day,” McClurkin said, adding that a simple compliment or kind word could go a long way in brightening someone’s day.
After his seminar, McClurkin taught his volunteers a few silly Globetrotter tricks, much to the delight of the audience.
Fifth-grader Lambros Alamond said he thought McClurkin’s performance was “awesome.” He said Liverpool Elementary’s anti-bullying lessons are important for students to hear.
“I think it’s important so that kids can learn if somebody does bully you, not to fight back, but to stand up for yourself and use the ABCs of bullying,” Alamond said.
Cangello said the Harlem Globetrotters reached out to LE about the seminar.
“We were so ecstatic,” Cangello said. “It’s an experience that a lot of our students wouldn’t have had if they hadn’t come to us.”
Cangello said she enjoyed McClurkin’s style of presentation.
“I liked that he could relate to the kids — he had gone through some tough times,” she said.
Cangello said the program was a good addition to LE’s other anti-bullying and character education assemblies.
“Education is not just about academics anymore,” she said. “It’s about developing the whole child to create great citizens.”
Cangello said bullying at LE has decreased since implementing character education programs.
“We have such an awareness because the kids know what to look for and what to do if it happens,” she said.
Cangello said family involvement is key to developing good citizens. She said parents should model treating family members with compassion and respect so children learn how to form healthy relationships as they grow.
“We do that as a staff, too — model compassion for each other and for our students,” she said.
