School counselor and staff consultant Sean Hogan-Downey, A.C.S.W., led a discussion on Thursday on the book Loser, by Jerry Spinelli, for 4/5 students and their parents. During this breakfast/book group discussion, students and parents compared notes on why many of the protagonist's peers perceived him as a "loser."

"Because he doesn't excel in anything," said one fourth grader. "He has bad handwriting and he gets bad grades and he's not good in sports."

"If Zinkoff was such a loser and nobody liked him, why is it then that we liked him?" asked Sean.

"Because we're reading the book from his point of view," replied a fifth grader.

The students focused on the perspective of the protagonist and ways they could help if they saw a peer being bullied.

"I call that being a bystander," said Sean. "Being a bystander means you're not the victim or the perpetrator, but you can take an active part. I'm not suggesting that you take on the bully. That's for the adults to do. But you can distract the bully and say to the victim, 'Here, you come with me.'"

Sean also discussed the "big eyes" that children develop around fifth grade, when they become more critical of their peers. Oftentimes that criticism can result in name calling and other mean behavior.

The students and parents agreed on some life lessons they would take away from the book. "I will try not to be judgmental," said a fifth grader.

"I used to worry about how others would perceive or judge my children," said a parent. "Now I know it's okay for them to be different and I accept them for who they are. They are so much happier that way."