HURT  FREE
Schools
EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES (United States and International)
- Teacher training (inservice and workshops)
- Presentations with Students (school-wide, classroom, small
groups)
- Parent and Community Lectures
- Media (radio, television, newspaper)
- Key-Note Speeches for Conferences / Associations
- On-Site Consultation for Development
of Safe School Climate
Chris Mattise M.Ed. is an American
elementary school guidance counselor who has developed a
comprehensive, teacher-friendly program to address the emotional
anguish caused by bullying among children. Her HURT-FREE
School's model is widely used by elementary schools throughout
the United States and
South Africa. She has presented workshops in Poland and
Lesotho as well. Her Rainbow of Safety curricula effectively
addresses the following :
How
can we give ALL children the language to understand that
in a Hurt-Free School ...
No
one has the right to hurt you on purpose no
one has the right to take away another's RIGHT to ... - Be
SAFE
- Be
FREE
- Be-LONG
- Be
ME !
- to do nothing when one person hurts another...
is never an
acceptable choice
How
can children learn if they are afraid of being terrorized at
the next recess ?
How can
schools address persistent patterns of aggression and isolation
on the playground?
If
the tragedies of Columbine have their roots in unchecked harassment,
doesn't it make sense to create an environment which stifles
bullying at a very young age ?
Working with input from teachers,
parents and administrators, Mrs. Mattise has designed a simple,
child-friendly program that reduces "hurtful" behavior
when used on a school-wide basis. This program is unique in
that it :
- can be easily used and understood by young children (age
5 - 12)
- provides ready-to-use classroom management techniques for
teachers
- fits seamlessly into the academic curriculum
- empowers schools to track patterns
of potential bullying with
strategies which are responsive, accountable and deliberate
ADDRESSING BULLYING, VIOLENCE PREVENTION
HURT- FREE Schools has
drawn world-wide recognition from educators, parents and lawmakers who are searching
for ways to stem violence in schools. Private, public, urban and rural
... schools from every possible setting are seeking to support students through
the challenges of social development while honoring the non-negotiable right
of every child for emotional, social and physical safety.
BUILDING RESILIENCE AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
On the global front, the HURT FREE
School's model
has been especially embraced by schools who are reaching
towards recovery and reconciliation from larger societal and
historical issues. The Rainbow of Safety's neutral,
child-friendly language provides a common language for
children, educators and parents to work together in overcoming
painful legacies of dominance, intimidation, prejudice
and racism. The foundations for reversing the cycles
of poverty, crime and AIDS find their roots in teaching young
children how to balance their personal social rights,
responsibilities while understanding and accepting the realities
and consequences of their actions. From township schools
in South Africa to Native American Schools in the United States
... schools are discovering healing and hope for future generations
as they embrace these beliefs ...
The skills which tomorrow's
leaders will
need to claim world peace
must be taught and practiced on playgrounds,
everywhere ...
one hour at a time, one day at a time, one
week at a time, one year at a time
by the school children of today .
Ms. Mattise has presented the HURT FREE
Schools concept in
the United States for :
National Association of Elementary School Principals
University of Vermont / National Crime Prevention Council
Child Welfare League of America
New Hampshire Administrators and Special Educators Association
University of New Hampshire
Pennsylvania State University
Local Rotary and Lion's Clubs
Parent and Church Associations
International presentations include: Association of Moral Education (University of Glasgow, Scotland
2000)
School Workshop in Krakow, Poland 2003
International Scientific Conference : Foundations of Educational
Community (Jagiellonian University; Krakow, Poland 2004)
Nation-wide Conference Series of Schools
in South Africa (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004) |
