"Violence, Bullying & Gangs" November 3 Conference

October 8, 2003 - Each day 160,000 students miss school due to fear of being bullied. Children who are afraid cannot learn and have trouble concentrating. Helping children learn how to effectively cope with bullying and antisocial behavior can add immeasurably to efforts to break the cycle of violence in homes, schools and communities.

At a conference on Monday, November 3, 2003 a panel of experts will present workshops to help parents, educators and counselors cope with the rising incidents of hazing, bullyings and gang violence. The conference, titled "Violence, Bullying & Gangs: Let's Not Fail our Kids," will be held from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Hillwood Commons at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, Northern Boulevard (Route 25A) in Brookville.

Workshop topics include: Hazing-The Wrong Rites of Passage; Operation Respect: Don't Laugh at Me Program; Reducing the Stigma of Mental Illness-Breaking the Silence; Bullies and Their Victims; School-wide Strategies to Reduce Bullying; Sexual Harassment; Resolving Conflicts Creatively; and A Look at National Best Practices for Gang Prevention Programs in the United States.

Peter Yarrow of the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, and founder of the organization Operation Respect, will deliver the keynote address. Operation Respect disseminates educational resources that are designed to establish a climate that reduces the emotional and physical cruelty some children inflict upon each other by behaviors such as ridicule, bullying and in extreme cases, violence.

The conference is open to the public but is especially geared toward educators, parents of children in kindergarten through grade 12, special education personnel, social workers, guidance counselors, psychologists, youth workers and school administrators.

The event is sponsored by the Long Island Professional & Parent Education Network & 21st Century Save Our Kids Task Force. Co-sponsors include the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University; SCOPE (Suffolk County Organization for the Promotion of Education); Nassau County Council of School Superintendents; Town of Islip NAACP; and the Nassau County Youth Board.

The conference fee is $100 payable upon registration. To register or for more information call (516) 433-9444 or email LIPEN21@aol.com.