Early childhood educators and administrators are invited to a one-day seminar on bullying from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, at the K.I.D.S. School in Kapa‘a. “Bullying — What Does It Look Like with 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds” is the
Early childhood educators and administrators are invited to a one-day seminar on bullying from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, at the K.I.D.S. School in Kapa‘a.
“Bullying — What Does It Look Like with 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds” is the topic being presented by Rosie Rowe, Education and Training, Learning Disabilities of Association of Hawai‘i, during the 5th Annual Child Development Day event.
The topic takes up the morning before a lunch break provided by the organizers.
Phyllis Kunimura, director of the K.I.D.S. School and author of “Beyond the Sandbox — Preschool Matters,” will take on the topic of Resolution, Empathy Process following the lunch break.
Kunimura said registration is $15 and space is limited.
Bullying is the biggest stress students face, said state Board of Education Chairman Don Horner, in an Associated Press article earlier this week.
The Oct. 3 announcement in Honolulu was accompanied by the presentation of public service announcements created by students of Waianae High School and featuring University of Hawai‘i football and basketball players.
Education officials are looking at implementing a “safe schools” program which includes training for faculty, monitoring student behavior data and developing a confidential reporting system, according to AP.
A new Hawai‘i law requires the education department to regulate student compliance with its own rules on bullying and harassment.
Steve Shiraki, administrator of the department’s Comprehensive Student Support Services, said the new law helps the campaign but officials have long been considering ways to address bullying.
“When someone is picking on you because of your name, not who you are, it shapes what happens with a kid,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie who unveiled the six PSA segments in Honolulu. “These things are real.”
Email Kunimura at pkunimura@aol.com, or call 822-0262 for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
