Years ago my husband and I started watching My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Actually, to be honest, I started watching and made him watch it with me. It didn’t take long for him to get hooked as well and we’ve been watching it together ever since. He reads a lot of the fan fiction and even though I thought it a little creepy at first, once I read some as well, I realized that there are some pretty epic stories out there. You forget about the whole idea that we’re talking about cute, colourful ponies quickly, instead they become full fledged characters the greatest fiction writers can be proud of. There are some very real lessons and themes within both the show and some of the fan fiction.
Now, a couple of years ago one of my middle school classes were having some trouble. Friends were being mean to friends and bullying was rampant. I taught Humanities - English and Social Studies, as well as Health and Career Education. Naturally it fell to me to put a stop to their behaviour. The problem lies with the fact that these kids (most kids today) have heard every lecture you can think of about bullying. They have created posters, slogans and campaigns. They have done it all and have grown numb to the message. This was shortly after a series of teenage suicides due to bullying. They have heard and seen it all. They know the ins and outs of anti-bullying like no generation before them.
So what do you do? What is there that I can possibly do to draw their attention and teach them in a way that will make a lasting effect. Honestly, any effect at all would be great, whether it lasts or not.
On my way to school one day I had an idea. The Elements of Harmony. My Little Pony is going to save this day! I showed them the first two episodes where the Elements were introduced. Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty and Magic. I described ‘Magic’ as Love to the kids. The kind of love that keeps friends together. It is what keeps the other Elements together to form friendship. It was a powerful lesson. The students did a lot of analyzing about what the Elements mean and how they can relate to them. Honestly, it was easy on my part. They did almost all of the thinking and the work. They came up with all the right ideas and ways it relates to them with very little prodding on my part.
And then this morning, as I dropped my husband off at work, I realized that us adults seemed to have missed this message ourselves. Why is it that we can teach it to kids, but don’t embrace the Elements ourselves? We are constantly telling our children what makes a good friend but we are the first to turn to gossiping for entertainment? We tend to only be generous to those we think deserve it, right? Think about it for a second. When you give, do you first judge a person to determine if they deserve your generosity or do you just see a need and try to fill it? I know where I stand and I’m not too proud of that. And I am not talking about your best friend coming by and asking for some sugar, I’m talking real, selfless giving.
How much kindness and love do we show our fellow human beings? Why do we have this tendency to shower only those closest to us with these Elements, but those who might be in very real need goes without because as strangers they are not our problem? Many of us will donate to a good cause or give a few dollars to a beggar on the street thinking that we have now done our share. But have we? Have we really truly done something to show love to our fellow walkers of the earth? Maybe. Maybe not.
I realize that I might be able to spew a lot of ideas forth on the Magic of Friendship where my students are concerned, but until I start truly living these Elements, I am not worthy of teaching these concepts except maybe as an example of what not to do. I have a lot to learn about friendship and love. And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one.