The American Association of University Women published findings of a survey in a report titled, Crossing the Line: Sexual Harassment in School conducted in the 2010-2011 school year. The survey questioned 1,965 public school students in grades 7-12 about sexual harassment in all its forms; bullying, teasing and touching. The survey found that about 48% of the students experienced some form of sexual harassment at school. You may think once a child graduates from high school there’s less cause for alarm, but that’s unfortunately not true.
The statistics for sexual assaults on college campuses are worse than those of high school. On a positive note, college campus sexual assaults are garnering more and more media attention, consider recent headlines from Michigan State University, but we need to empower our students before they reach the college campus. It’s time to “shift the paradigm” and view sexual assault through a new lens. Which is what Shifting the Paradigm, hopes to accomplish. A day long workshop being held at the Kaufman Foundation on Saturday, April 21st from 9 to 3pm.
Workshop attendees will be broken into three groups; teen boys, teen girls and parents and school staff. Workshop presenters include the following from the YWCA; Carrie Turner, Training and Outreach Coordinator; Karla Hanlan, Sexual Violence Victim Advocate; Wendy Hickman MSW LCSW Sexual and Domestic Violence therapist, Dr. Brad Kincheloe, 20+ year principal at Park Hill High School and Barrye L. Price, Major General, US Army, ret. These presenters will discuss and answer questions on topics like supporting survivors, recognizing rape culture, online abuse, alcohol and consent, and masculinity. These discussions will be a powerful tool for supporting people through these tough conversations, and can be a road map for open and honest communication between kids and parents and students and school staff. To round out the day, we will have a shortened version of a full length self-defense class. This is truly going to be an instructive day! We’d like to invite you to gather a group of students, parents and staff to attend what promises to be an informative and worthwhile workshop. At $5 per person, it’s certainly an economical event!
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Bonnie Cannon
President, Park Hill High School PTA
WORKSHOP DETAILS
WHERE: The Kaufman Foundation: 4801 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City, MO 64110
WHEN: April 21st. Registration opens at 8:30am, Program begins at 9am and ends at 3pm.
COST: $5. Must be paid in advance and includes a light breakfast and boxed lunch.
REGISTER AT: Registration will open in March. Stay tuned for updates on the site information. * Registration is limited to 200
DEADLINE TO REGISTER: April 17, 2017. Walk-ups will not be admitted due to limited seating and pre-ordering of food.