Farm City Days, USD 257 and Humanity House are presenting to the students of Iola and Humboldt the Serious Comedian, Keith Deltano, who will be addressing bullying, cyberbullying, and resilience.
In Humboldt, the assembly will take place Tuesday at the Fieldhouse. On Wednesday, Iola will have three student assemblies at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center for grades K-4, 5-8, and 9-12.
On Wednesday evening, a workshop will be held at the Bowlus for the parents of students. If youre a parent in Iola, Humboldt, Moran, Colony, Chanute or Yates Center, youre invited, and your attendance is so very important for your child. This workshop begins at 6 p.m. and is free.
Bullying affects every student in a school.
Students who are bullied suffer from depression, anxiety and loneliness. They may have changes in their sleep and eating patterns and lose interest in activities. These symptoms can carry over into adulthood. The bullied student has decreased academic performance, a lower GPA and standardized test scores. They participate less in school. They are more likely to miss school, skip class, and drop out.
Those who bully have their own set of problems. They are more likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs. They are more likely to get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school. They are more likely to engage in early sexual activity and have more criminal convictions and traffic citations. When they become adults, they are more likely to abuse their romantic partners, spouses, and children.
As if that isnt enough, in a school where bullying occurs, even students who are neither bullied nor bullies are affected in adverse ways. They also have increased tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. They have an increase in mental health problems including depression and anxiety. They also are likely to miss or skip school.
Every student is adversely affected: the bully, the bullied, and the bystander.
In the United States, more than 3.2 million students are bullied. Every day, roughly 160,000 children do not attend school because of bullying. Among students in grades 4-8, 90 percent report being bullied. One in 20 students drop out due to bullying. Physical bullying is most prevalent in middle school. Yet one in four teachers do not see bullying as a problem. Clearly, there is a disconnect.
Next Wednesday, we are hoping that parents, educators, and administrators will learn ways to make bullying a thing of the past.
If we want our children to succeed in school, get the best education possible, and get a mentally healthy jumpstart at life, we have to make sure we are doing everything possible for our schools to be a safe place. Please make attending this free workshop a priority for the children that you love. Kindness matters!
