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Show In one fourth-grade class at Thorpe, Oliver blew bubbles whilethe kids exercised self-control and concentration byresisting the impulse to burst them.“We draw analogies betweenthe bubbles and an object like a gun,”says Oliver. “Kids may be tempted, but they shouldn’t touchit.” “I'm sold onthe program,” says Bob Brinkley, Thorpe’s principal. “I’m learning from kids here that Skills for Life is making a difference—notjust in the playground but also outside ofschool. They’re telling methatkids aren’t shoving eachother.” Oliver believesthat children can be taughtto behaveresponsibly,evenif they see badrole modelsinreal life and in the media.“If they see adults using guns or drugs, they have the internal skills to avoid following whatthey see,” says Oliver. “We’re helpingto break the cycleofviolence.” He addsthatself-control could havehelped preventtragedieslike the Columbine shootings or the Michigan slayingofa first-graderby a classmate. At Welch Elementary Schoolin Peabody, Mass., Jordana Cardosa, a fifth-grader, describes how her behavior has changed: “Before, when I got mad at somebody, I'd alwaysgetintoa fight. Now I’ve leamed to use myself-controland deal with it.” The program also teaches confidence. Jonathan Heller, a teacher at Welch and a soccercoach,recalls howit helped one studentin a citywide tournament: “Hewas so nervousbefore the first game that he wantedself-control time. The otherkids didn’t know whathe was doing—but he played an outstanding game. Bythe end of the tournament, everyone wasdoingit.” At Welch, things were so bad that teachers contributed their own moneyto sponsor the program. Today, Welch—with a high proportion of kids from singleparentfamilies, many of them impoverished—has changed froma teacher’s nightmare into a dream.A study by the Harvard Schoolof Public Health foundthat teachers, parents and students all noticed less fightingafter Skills for Life began. Harvard plans to do moreprojects with Lesson One. And in national studyofviolenceprevention programs,Phillip Heymann,a formerdeputy attorney general, concluded:“Oneortwothingsstand outfrom the review. Lesson Oneis one of them.” If Tolearn more, visit www.lessonone.org onthe Web; write Lesson One Foundation, 245 NewburySt., Dept. P. Boston, Mass. 02116; or call 1-617-247-2787. as PARADE MAGAZINE - MAY 7, 2000 - PAGE 23 Te erere ee no Say eT | when rere aie Per oT Ee The first and only raid thal can help wou fall asleep at (on roe eee ee Hot Lor preniatiee Tee idee COT Eee eT Onata© EAARION |
