Renton students learn about bullying through theater

A popular theater is teaching Renton students about bullying by bringing plays to their schools.

"It's one more way for kids to get the idea that bullying isn't OK," said Karen Kranz, spokesperson for St. Anthony School.

While the plays, put on by the Taproot Theatre Road Company, are a part of St. Anthony's larger program to prevent bullying, it's also a chance for children to get exposure to professional actors.

"Some of the students we see wouldn't see live theater unless we brought it to them," said actor Adrienne Littleton, adding that often students refer to the play as a movie.

The Seattle-based troupe, with its five actors, performs locally for students in grades K-12.

Their focus is teaching students to be empathetic, but they also work on conflict resolution.

"Research shows kids that have these skills are less likely to be bullied at school," Littleton said.

During a performance for elementary students, brightly-colored superheroes learn how to respond to bullies through trial and error. One student superhero uses a time-controlling teacher to see what method works best.

"We always get good feedback from the kids," Kranz said. "They love it."

Kids then answered questions about what they learned and asked a few questions about the play.

"A lot of us love working with kids," Littleton said.

In addition to the annual plays, some St. Anthony students are trained to mediate conflicts on the playground.

The students volunteer for two-day training. Then they take turns helping their peers work through disputes at recess.

"It's a way for kids to resolve conflicts right away," Kranz said. "It doesn't always have to involve a teacher."

The school's counselor gives presentations in classes about bullying.

Taking a "nurture heart" approach, the staff tries to encourage those students who handle their struggles well.

Since the school began these programs about five years ago, reports of bullying have dropped significantly, Kranz said.

"It's just constantly trying to reinforce things with different methods," she said. "Nobody likes to be bullied."