Conference on Violence, Bullying, Hazing & Gangs

November 3, 2003 -- More than 150 teachers, counselors and officials from local school districts gathered today at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University for a conference on coping with bullying and antisocial behavior. The conference, titled "Violence, Bullying, Hazing & Gangs: Let's Not Fail Our Kids," was sponsored by the Long Island Parent Education Network & 21st Century Save Our Kids Task Force. The event was co-sponsored by the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.

A panel of experts presented workshops on: 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, delivered 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.

For more information call (516) 433-9444 or email LIPEN21@aol.com.