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KIDS LEARN Published: September 21, 2004
Children at Island City and Willow Elementary schools are raising their hands at the start of class each morning — not to ask questions but to make a lifelong commitment. A commitment to a non violent world. Students raise a hand each morning to recite a non-violence pledge: "I will not use my hands or my words for hurting myself or others.'' The pledge is the heart of the nationwide Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Project which Island City and Willow elementary schools are participating in. Willow's involvement in the project received its official kickoff at an assembly late last week. Island City conducted its kickoff assembly at the start of the school year. Those who spoke at Willow's assembly included Russ West, a Union County Circuit Court judge. West told Willow's students of the importance of turning the other cheek if someone teases them on the playground. He explained that people use words to control you. When you choose not to respond you remain in control instead of letting the other person control your behavior, he said. La Grande Fire Chief Bruce Weimer also spoke. He explained to Willow's students how firefighters and paramedics use their hands to "help and heal.'' Willow Principal Charlotte McLaughlin said later that all too often children see people in the news using their hands to hurt one another. "We want our students to know that the real world is also a place where people can use hands to be good to each other,'' McLaughlin said. She wants Willow's students to know that hands are used constructively and that they can set the example for others. McLaughlin hopes that the pledge helps them do this. "If this is going to change it has to start with a message that is internal,'' the Willow principal said. "...If you hear it and say it over and over it becomes a part of your belief system.'' As part of the project students at Willow and Island City placed their hands in purple paint and then made hand prints on a large board. The color purple signifies remembrance of the victims of violence. Island City's board is located in its hallway and Willow's will be placed in its playground. The boards are meant to remind students that they can solve problems in a positive way. "Anger is a feeling we all have but violence is a choice,'' said John Tolan, Island City Elementary School's principal. Tolan wants children to understand that they have positive options for handling anger. For example, if someone gets upset during a game at recess he or she can walk away or go to another game. Using words constructively also means not putting yourself down. McLaughlin does not want to hear children making self-critical remarks. "A negative attitude about yourself puts you in downward spiral,'' McLaughlin said. The Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Project started seven years ago in Salem. Today numerous schools in the United States and overseas are a part of it. Island City and Willow students have been reciting the Hands Are Not For Hurting pledge since the start of the school year. They may do so for years to come since their school's principals hope that the Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Project continues for some time. This means that the schools' students could be repeating the project's pledge for years to come. "It is such a powerful message. If you keep it going it (the pledge's message) becomes a part of them,'' McLaughlin said. |
