Imagining a Calmer Classroom

Verde Valley News – Today’s schools are in desperate need of a behavioral re-set. Bullies and instigators of classroom violence must be met at a community level, to prevent small problems from escalating into tragic headlines. Former coach, police officer and best-selling author Bobby Kipper offers ideas to prevent classroom violence in his free workshop, No Bullying Allowed: Strategies for Creating a Civil, Respectful and Safe Campus, Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. in Bldg. 3 of Yavapai College’s Prescott Campus.

“We have an institutional problem with bullying in America. At all levels.” Bobby Kipper says. Thirty years of service as a public safety officer led him and Bud Ramey to write a book, No Bullies: Solutions for Saving our Children from Today’s Bullies, published by the National Center for the Prevention of Community Violence. Kipper speaks extensively to educators and civic leaders on this age-old problem that has grown more sophisticated and dangerous.

“[Society] runs the gamut on what to do. Sometimes they teach the wrong thing – ‘stand up and fight’ – which only adds more violence to the situation. That’s why the book is important. It’s kind of an encyclopedia on how to handle bullying.” Kipper also holds workshops on strategies to “reduce animosity and poor behavior.”

There are no quick or easy fixes, he says. The best answer is an approach that builds a positive classroom environment – and schools can’t do that on their own. “Part of the solution is more connection between communities and schools.” Violent tendencies, he says, start at home and must be met with a coordinated response in our communities. “Let’s start talking about things to do collectively. Educators need a chance to engage with parents.”

In a digitized world, he says, the best response is connection, coordinated action and a thoughtful, consequential response. “These aren’t hardware issues. These are human issues. Everything we talk about starts and ends with behavior.”

Sponsored by Yavapai College’s Justice Institute, Kipper’s No Bullying Allowed workshop runs Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Building 3 on Yavapai College’s Prescott Campus. Admission is free – and a copy of No Bullies is included – but seating is limited, and advanced registration is required at www.yc.edu/JI.