NCJ Number
158439
Date Published
1996
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video uses humor, songs, puppets, and a ventriloquist to teach children (grades K-5) the nature and consequences of bullying another person as well as behavioral techniques that show proper respect for another person's rights and feelings.
Abstract
The video opens with Groark and his ventriloquist friend McGee putting on a show of comedy and song for a group of children. Groark, however, is preoccupied with a troublesome incident that occurred earlier. As Groark begins telling the children about what happened, a flashback of the incident is dramatized with puppet characters. Groark and his friends Nubbs, Verna, and Mugsy are in a neighborhood park trying to decide what to do to have fun. Verna, who seems to be dominating the decisionmaking, wants to play catch, but there is no ball, so she grabs Nubbs hat and begins tossing it around to Mugsy and Groark in a game of keep-away. Angry and upset, Nubbs leaves the park without his hat, and Groark keeps it. After hearing this story, McGee suggests to Groark that the children provide him advice on how to deal with this problem. The children classify Groark's behavior as bullying, because it involved behavior that demeaned and demoralized Nubbs. They suggest that Groark should consider whether his behavior is helping or hurting those who are affected by it. The children advise that Groark should not persist in behavior that makes someone else feel badly. Groark leaves the show immediately to put the advice in action with his friend Nubbs. After apologizing to Nubbs, Verna and Mugsy appear, and Groark convinces them that what they did to Nubbs was wrong. The video concludes as Groark returns to the show to report to McGee and the children that their advice worked and he and Nubbs are friends again. Groark and McGee close the show with a song about feeling good when you help others. A discussion guide accompanies the video. For other videos in the series, see NCJ-158436-38 and NCJ-158440.