Dealing with bullying in the age of Trump

The term “bullying in the age of Trump” is trending on Twitter and Facebook. People are even receiving death threats here in Central Oregon for voicing their opinions.

“There’s been instances around the country in schools, as well as professionals, about people that have threatened and bullying and so forth,” immigration attorney Dan Larsson said Wednesday.

Larsson said in his 22 years of being a lawyer, he’s never received an influx of calls like he has in the past few weeks.

People across the nation have been protesting against the new president elect. But some have been gathering in support of Trump as well.

Even high schoolers were slandering some of their friends, and middle schoolers were walking out of classrooms across the nation.

But regardless of the negativity, some schools across the nation like Ponderosa Elementary are teaching students to accept those around them and love your neighbor.

Ponderosa SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) teacher Heidi Thomas uses an apple to teach her students that even though it may not look bruised on the outside, someone may be bruised on the inside.

Although these students are young, the election has touched their lives as well.

“When it does come up, we might have one kiddo say that they’re excited about the president-elect, and other kids boo that child, and it’s just shutting them down,” Thomas said.

“Letting them know some people are happy in this time and some people are sad, and that’s okay, but just to move on and be respectful to those kiddos no matter how they’re feeling,” said Thomas.

Thomas is hoping to be able to teach this young generation how to be kind and accepting to everyone, so they can practice doing so throughout their lives.