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Pritam K. Rohila, Ph. D., October 15, 2007
Hands and Words are Not for Hurting is a a
grassroots effort that was initiated ten years ago by Ann S. Kelly of Salem,
Oregon, U.S.A, to end abuse and violence in homes, schools, and communities. It
has since expanded to many communities throughout the United
States and beyond.
In Salem area
the program is supported by the local school district. The district’s
Prevention Department provides curriculum which is designed to teach social
skills in empathy, impulse control , conflict
resolution and peace-making to students at all grade levels.
Children in kindergarten through 8th grade learn how to
recognize and understand feelings. They are taught how to make positive and
effective choices, and to keep anger from escalating into violence.
Children in grades 3 through 5 are trained in skills needed to build
respectful and healthy peer relationships. The focus is on friendship skills
and assertive communication.
Middle school children learn how to change attitudes and behaviors that
may lead to violence. They are helped to develop problem-solving skills and new
ways of thinking about how they might respond to conflict in roles as
aggressors, victims and bystanders.
High school students are taught skills how conflicts can become violent
situations. They learn about the impact of violence on perpetrators, victims
and communities, how to manage conflicts, maintain personal safety, deal
effectively with sexual harassment and abusive relationships, and identify
resources available to help prevent and avoid violence.
The central feature of the program requires each child to take a
pledge: “I will not use my hands or words for hurting myself or others.”
While taking the pledge each child is asked to draw or trace his/her
own hands on purple paper and sign his name and age.
The purple hands are then displayed in each school together with
critical messages of nonviolence.
The display serves as a visual reminder of each child’s personal
commitment to stop and think before saying or doing anything hurtful.
The essential message is: “Anger is a feeling, violence is always a
choice.”
More information about the program is available on the Hands Project
website www.handsproject.org
Souce: ACHA
PEACE BULLETIN, Volume XI, No. 10, October 15, 2007, Next Issue, November 15, 2007
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