Ten Sleep School presentation features self-defense, bullying discussion

TEN SLEEP –Ten Sleep School Security Consultant to the crisis team Kurt Steinke gave students in Ten Sleep sixth, seventh and eighth grade a discussion about bullying Friday morning.

The seminar began with the students enjoying a few karate moves with both Steinke and his wife Alana (who both own Kurt's Karate in Worland) before Kurt Steinke started talking to the students about the difference between fighting and self-defense. Steinke explained with a demonstration that fighting is trying to hurt someone where self-defense is trying to make sure that you don't get hurt. He had his wife attack him and showed the students the self-defense moves to counter an attack. He then showed how what starts out as self-defense can quickly turn into fighting by showing that once he had the perpetrator in a position where the aggressor is under control and someone takes advantage of that and adds insult to injury.

After the brief karate demonstration, Steinke explained to the students the difference between bullying, just being mean and being rude. Steinke asked the students what the definition of bullying was upon which the students said repetition and intent to hurt, either emotionally, physically or mentally.

Upon that Steinke explained to the students that both the bully and the victims were both victims. He stated that bullying starts with the bully having issues that comes from something in the bully's life which boils over into their personal life. He stated that both the bully and the victim are consumed with issues that stem from something else.

Steinke stressed that both bullies and their victims need to seek help, because bullying is a social disease that needs to be recognized. Both suffer from the same issues: depression and anxiety and that empathy needs to be given to both.

There is a certain stigma that occurs even with children who stop people from asking for help. Steinke reinforced the idea to get help, whether you are a bully or you are a victim of being bullied. He stated that empathy is required and that there is nothing wrong with getting help, you are not weak for getting help. "Would you hide a disease from your doctor or family?" Steinke asked. He added that bullying is a social disease that needs to be recognized.

Those who are being bullied and those who are the bullies need to get help, Steinke said. Teachers, parents and Safe2Tell Wyoming are ways to get help for bullying victims. Bullies can get help by talking with their guidance counselors, teachers and parents.

Since Steinke was talking to middle school students he only addressed the results of bullying at a middle school level, but he emphasized that bullying can lead to suicide and that bullying can lead to depression, panic attacks or both.

Steinke explained that a bullied student may come to school happy and carefree until the student gets to school, where all of a sudden once at school the student becomes apprehensive, sick and scared.

Two additional seminars are scheduled at the school for high schoolers and elementary students. The elementary seminar will be Dec. 5 and the high school seminar will be Dec. 14. Both seminars will be adjusted to the audience's ages.