SUBMITTED PHOTOS Phil Wagoner, who teaches physical education at Central Elementary in Beech Grove, came up with the idea for a “Buddy Bench.” His pupils (below) admire the bench.
When Central Elementary physical education teacher Phil Wagoner envisioned that it would be nice to have a small area outside where his lonely or down-on-their-luck pupils could go for some friendship, he thought of a “Buddy Bench,” which is designed to foster friendship and inclusion on the playground.
While a relatively new concept – there are only about 10 such benches in Indiana – the initiative also allows children to get acquainted with classmates that they might not know very well.
Well ... after reaching out to Kirk Martin, manager of the Lowe’s on Emerson Avenue, and Sutterfield Plaque & Trophy in Beech Grove, Wagoner’s idea came to fruition.
There are some guidelines to the use of a Buddy Bench, but the enforcement is probably lax. In general, the seat should not be used by the same person every day, and once you make a friend on the bench, invite him to play with you and your friends.
While a relatively new concept – there are only about 10 such benches in Indiana – the initiative also allows children to get acquainted with classmates that they might not know very well.
Well ... after reaching out to Kirk Martin, manager of the Lowe’s on Emerson Avenue, and Sutterfield Plaque & Trophy in Beech Grove, Wagoner’s idea came to fruition.
There are some guidelines to the use of a Buddy Bench, but the enforcement is probably lax. In general, the seat should not be used by the same person every day, and once you make a friend on the bench, invite him to play with you and your friends.
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