| I just wonder why a public school would incorporate Yoga into an activity held at school. Yoga is deeply rooted in Hinduism-isn't that a religion? Who authorized this? What does this have to do with public education? What were the parents told about the Yoga (and drumming?)? This was many of the girls' FIRST YOGA EXPERIENCE! The schools have engaged in proselytizing, using our kids as the prize. Publication:APD - West Bend Daily News; | Date:May 1, 2010; | Section:Front Page; | Page Number:A1 | ||
‘Girls-4-Girls’ focuses on reducing bullying Silverbrook seventh-graders spend a night together By KRISTEN J. KUBISIAK Daily News Staff
School is the last place most middle school students would like to spend a Friday night — but for Silverbrook seventh grade girls it was a great location for a celebration.
About 60 seventh-grade girls gathered in the school cafeteria Friday night for the fourth “Girls-4-Girls” event.
The “lock-in” is the culmination of a five-week program focused on breaking down clique barriers and reducing the incidents of bullying among girls, said program organizer and school counselor Sue Milkus.
“Bullying for girls is different than with boys,” Milkus said. “Girls are in many ways more subtle and more mean. They are cunning in regard to how they can hurt another girl — by gossiping and spreading rumors. We all have that capacity — to deal with our own insecurities by throwing them outside of ourselves.”
Each hourlong session during the program’s fiveweek period gave girls a chance to get to know one another and discuss the issues in their lives. Topics included self image, the difference between being popular and being likable, and character development as well as ways to turn intense negative emotions — such as jealousy, anger, fear and insecurity — into something positive, Milkus said.
One of the positive activities Milkus introduced to program participants was volunteering.
Girls were required to complete two hours of community service at school, Milkus said, “so they know how good it feels to make a difference or help someone else.”
The big reward for their participation in the “Girls-4-Girls” program was the lockin.
Program participants were treated to a variety of activities during the fourhour event, including drumming, yoga, massage and manicures, T-shirt decorating and bracelet making. Girls were divided into groups of four to six, with one adult volunteer assigned to each group.
They rotated through the different activities, which took place in classrooms and were offered in 20-minute sessions.
Kathy Nieman of Yoga One Studio, Cedarburg, led girls through — what was for many — their first yoga experience.
“The purpose of teen yoga is to help the girls feel more empowered,” Nieman said. “Yoga brings a calmness to your body and your mind.”
One of the girls at the event looking forward to participating in yoga was Kaitlin Weidner.
Weidner said the “Girls-4-Girls” program enabled her to get to know her classmates better.
“There were girls I didn’t know who I found out we had things in common,” she said. “We are friends now.”
West Bend East sophomore Kate Vetter, who participated in the program when she was in seventh grade, was one of several Silverbrook alumni volunteers at the school Friday providing manicures.
“I remember my ‘Girls-4-Girls’ lock-in,” she said. “It was the first year the school offered it and it was a lot of fun.”
In year four of her program, Milkus said she hopes it is something that other schools might embrace.
“We don’t have a lot of bullying here,” she said. “I’d like to think that the program has had a positive affect on the school climate.”
Yoga? I thought the Supt. of Curr. & Instruction stated he would not allow yoga into the classroom? Who is accountable for this event? Massage? What KIND of massage? Full body? Foot? What exactly is drumming? What kind of message did they receive and who was it delivered by? What was the agenda for the event? What was the total cost to the taxpayers?
ReplyDeleteThis was done after school hours. Kind of like the church services that are allowed int he schools on weekends
ReplyDeleteMike,
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with that analogy. Church services that are held in the school building are not run by teachers, guidance counselors, etc. and promoted by them. Look at the comment by Katie Vetter:
“I remember my ‘Girls-4-Girls’ lock-in,” she said. “It was the first year the school offered it and it was a lot of fun.”
This event was in reality or by default, promoted by the schools and staff.
The thing that really troubles me is the comment, "Kathy Nieman of Yoga One Studio, Cedarburg, led girls through — what was for many — their first yoga experience."
This is the type of school sponsored activity that could lead to law suits by parents.
Mike, this is where your confusion sets in. After school hours as a student-led activity is quite different than a school district promoted event. When the District puts on an event for the children, promotes it, and brings in religious activity to boot, therein lies the problem. The questions above are very valid.
ReplyDeleteThis is a comment from a school counselor:
ReplyDeleteIn year four of her program, Milkus said she hopes it is something that other schools might embrace.
Will this be spreading to all West Bend schools?