Chris Scheufele teaches BSI students social learning through comedy
Chris “Shoof” Scheufele entertained 5th and 6th graders at Big Spring Intermediate Thursday morning with a comedic take on social learning. The former teacher turned comedian and children's book author hopes to help young people learn intervention techniques that resolve conflicts in school and at home.
“You can use your brain to protect your heart,” Scheufele told the audience and demonstrated how using humor and clever atypical responses can deflate a potentially negative interaction.
His comedy sketches are a reflection of his experience as a band teacher and his own personal school-age experiences where he described himself as a “Nerd boy with an overbite.”
During the first set, “Shoof” engaged the students with relatable scenarios and demonstrated techniques to diffuse a would-be bully with the help of volunteer, 5th grader Landon New.
New was instructed by Scheufele to continually hurl insults at him despite his responses and demonstrated what happens when the victim becomes upset. As New insulted Scheufele's clothes and haircut, the speaker responded with defensive comments, “My shoes aren't cheap” and “I'm not ugly” stomping off acting as if he was upset.
Scheufele explained that the reason some people are mean is because they think it's fun to make another person feel bad, “It makes them feel like winners,” Scheufele said.
In the second scenario New was given the same instruction, but Scheufele demonstrated a different technique with positive responses to New's insults such as, “I think you're awesome” and “I really like how you dress” while remaining calm, cool and collected and thereby diffusing the situation.
Schaufele lists his likes as tacos, sushi and sleeping. His dislike is the word bully, however. “That word is used too much,” Scheufele said explaining that specifics should be addressed instead of using a catchall phrase becaused not every mean comment is a form of bullying. He also took issue with the word's meaning.
“Five hundred years ago bully meant best friend, loved one or sweetheart,” Scheufele explained.
“We need to get rid of the word bully.”
Not all situations are the same however and not all mean people will respond to clever quips or flattery. Scheufele addressed those instances and said that talking to an adult is always a good idea, but asking for ways to deal with a situation is sometimes a better approach. “Ask, ‘How can I fix this,'” Scheufele suggested. “Asking for help with a solution makes you stronger.”
Using the old adage “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” and
references to the Golden Rule, Scheufele demonstrated social learning in a fun, easy to understand and casual atmosphere.
Scheufele was a fifth grade band teacher for 6 years and was decided to become an inspirational speaker after seeing a need in the school system. He is one of the most requested public speakers in the country and has been a public speaker for two years.
He has written a total of 9 books. Six of them for children and three geared to adults. His website features games, merchandisea and videos. His next appearance is in Kansas. For more information visit his website www.chrisintheclassroom. com