LITTLE CURRENT—“Don’t get upset, treat them like a friend” is the simple message that resilient educator Brooks Gibbs seeks to instill in youth. The self-described “resilient educator” was at Little Current Public School recently with a mission to assist students to stop being so easily offended. His presentation was brought to Manitoulin by where he spoke to students at Little Current Public School, Assiginack Public School, Lakeview School in M’Chigeeng and Pontiac in Wiikwemkoong.
“I have a PhD in social psychology,” noted Mr. Gibbs, “but I don’t practice.” He says he has difficulty calling himself a psychologist. “So, I call myself a resilient educator with a PhD in psychology.”
For the past 25 years the 43-year-old Mr. Gibbs has been reaching out to youth with that simple message. “You have to keep it simple,” he explains. He delivers that message with humour and a natural engagement that had students paying rapt attention.
“I teach the psychology of offendability,” he said. “We need to teach kids how to stop getting so offended, because if there is no offense, there is no conflict.”
“If we teach our children to be mean to mean people it will only make things worse,” he said. “But if we teach them to be nice to people, even the mean people, things get better. ‘Don’t get offended, treat ‘em like a friend.’”
For the better part of an hour, Mr. Gibbs drilled that concept with humour and laughter.
He is the author of ‘Feeling Strong: A Student’s Guide To Emotional Resilience,’ wherein the innovative educator challenges readers “to take personal responsibility for how they feel and avoid blaming their problems on others.”
In the brief time he kept his audience in the palm of his hand, Mr. Gibbs gave the students insight into “Why they get upset; how to stop getting upset; how to think clearly and avoid drama; and how to regulate emotions and solve social problems.”
Noojmowin Teg’s Healthy Living Promoter Given Cortez noted that Noojmowin Teg Sexual and Domestic Violence Services Worker Carly Valiente had sought funding to help address the power differential at the core of conflict. “He is here as part of a wish list to bring in someone with fresh ideas, something different that will address the kids with something they haven’t heard before. So far, it has been really well received at the schools we have been to.”
“We really wanted to focus on the topic of bullying as well as healthy relationships,” said Ms. Valiente. “We were looking to do something exciting and different to get into the schools to reach students.”
