WILMINGTON – Wilmington won’t tolerate bullying in its schools. The United States Department of Justice reports that every month 1 out of every 4 kids will be bullied and abused by another youth, but Wilmington is taking action to prevent bullying in its schools, in part through the use of an ‘interactive theater’ prevention program.
Bullying is a significant problem in schools. According to the National Education Association, it can cause absenteeism, mental and physical stress, poor school performance, poor self-esteem, and, in some cases, can even lead to school violence. Statistics show that 160,000 children in the United States miss school each day as a result of being bullied.
The Wilmington Public Schools, the Wilmington Police Department and the Wilmington Education Foundation are sponsoring an educational theater series addressing bullying and harassment. It will be held at the Shawsheen, Woburn Street, North Intermediate, West Intermediate and the Wilmington Middle School for grades 2, 4, and 7. Programs will be performed in the schools beginning on October 26th, 2007 (during National Bullying Prevention week) and throughout the following week.
Students will be presented with one of three interactive programs produced and directed by Deana’s Educational Theater, a Stoneham based non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting healthy relationships. Deana’s Fund was established in 1994 after the death of Deana Brisbois, a young woman from Topsfield, MA who was a victim of dating violence. Deana’s Fund, which later changed it’s name to Deana’s Educational Theater, recognized the connection between peer and partner violence and strives to educate people in relationship violence prevention. The organization provides theater and arts-based educational programs to schools and communities around the United States.
The three programs are: “All Starz”, a 3- person play for young students that covers topics such as: identifying bullying behaviors, reporting vs. telling, inclusion and respecting others. “Doin’ The Right Thing,” is also a 3-person play, (this one for upper elementary and middle schools) which covers topics such as respect, bullying and harassment, and constructive bystander behaviors. And finally, “Remote Control,” which is another 3-person play, this one with middle and high school adaptations. It covers topics such as: dating violence, sexual coercion and bystander intervention.
The plays and the post-performance discussions that follow each play emphasize the important role that all students have in ending the devastation and cruel effects of this school safety issue.
According to Sher Quaday, Executive Director of Deana’s Educational Theater, the programs are a good first step to developing an effective bullying prevention program. “Schools report that the program has both an immediate and long-term effect on students,” she said. “Each is an engaging program that reflects episodes of real-life bullying. It is a great tool, and when used together with a curriculum and other school and community efforts, it has great potential to effectively reduce the incidence of bullying in the lives of children.”
Another important part of this series is a Teacher/Parent Workshop to be held in the auditorium at the Wilmington Middle School on October 18th, 2007 at 7:00 pm. The district encourages all staff and parents of second, fourth and seventh grade students to attend this program. Parent and teacher interest and participation in this workshop will help to address these serious topics with the students.
Copyright 2007 CBLegvold All Rights Reserved
