October 07, 2010 12:00 AM
Fall River Spirit Editor
Most children learn at an early age that seat belts save lives and that smoking is terrible for their health — advice that seems to stick.
Education about relationship violence shouldn’t be any different, Susan Jenkinson said.
“In utero would be better,” she said. “We need to start kids really young, be that in their face and public about it, teach them what’s right and what’s not.”
The Katie Brown Educational Program, which Jenkinson cofounded nine years ago along with Jay Schachne, the chairman of the board, does just that. and thanks to a $70,000 grant awarded by Fall River Public Schools, it soon will expand its services and hire a fourth full-time educator.
The Fall River-based program puts trained instructors into classrooms throughout SouthCoast and parts of Rhode Island to teach interactive lessons on anger management and handling conflict appropriately. Students in Grades 5 through 12 usually spend a week discussing healthy and unhealthy relationships.
The grant funding will ensure the cash-strapped non-profit remains a strong force in Fall River schools, Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown said Oct. 4 at a Government Center press conference announcing the partnership.
“The goal of the Fall River School Department is to support not only our students’ academic needs, but their social and emotional needs as well,” Mayo-Brown said.
Students in Grade 5 learn about power, self-esteem, responsibility and defining boundaries. In Grade 6, the discussion turns to managing anger. Older students learn about dating violence, gender stereotypes and setting realistic expectations in relationships.
Executive Director Ruth Zakarin said students often become more self-aware, noting in surveys after the lessons that they need to change their behavior or leave an abusive relationship.
“We want to eliminate the need for shelters and work with all kids, no matter their background,” Zakarin said. “There isn’t anyone who is immune from relationship violence. … we must give young people skills to enable them to make healthy decisions and protect themselves.”
The program’s educators said they see firsthand the difference the curriculum makes in students’ lives.
“One of my favorite parts is when students have light bulb moments and their faces perk up,” said Stephanie Joyal. “You can literally see the effect. Some of them say, ‘Thank you. I’ve really been struggling.’ sometimes, they’ll teach me things.
“It’s tough sometimes because we have to challenge what they’ve learned every day. what we say might contradict what dad says or what grandpa says.”
Claire Spaulding MicVicker, another educator, said students have told her they learned how to defend themselves in non-violent ways. “It’s not always the most exciting subject, but it teaches them personal accountability and ownership,” she said.
James Lawrence, the program’s newest instructor, said his past work at a domestic violence shelter, where mothers and their children sought refuge, made him realize early education is crucial.
“Instead of surrounding them with violence, we want to surround them with opportunity and stop it before it starts.”
The Katie Brown Educational Program was founded in 2001 after the brutal murder of 20-year-ancient Katherine Brown of Barrington, R.I., who was killed by a man she had dated since high school. Since then, the program has reached 42,000 children in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
More information is available at kbep.org.
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<a href="http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101007/PUB03/10070386/-1/pub03tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101007/PUB03/10070386/-1/pub03Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:48:45 GMT 00:00″>Anti-violence program gets funding boost