| Children are being harassed daily in our public schools and it is affecting their lives dramatically. Constant harassment can lead to low self-esteem, worthlessness, depression, violence, and even suicide. The key to preventing harassment is education and awareness, as well as providing alternatives to those being harassed to have a safe place to go to discuss their problems. |
| H.O.P.E. is a student led initiative whose goal is to provide a link of communication between parents, teachers, and students. |
| Parents need to be aware that their children are being harassed and in turn be able to provide them with the encouragement they need to get through the torment. |
| Teachers, Principles, School officials, need to be ready to provide proper punishment for those doing the harassing, as well creating a relationship of trust between themselves and students so that those being harassed feel comfortable enough telling them their situation. |
| Students need to be sensitive to others feelings, understand the consequences of their behavior, and also be ready to listen and provide strength to those victimized by such annoyances. |
| H.O.P.E. encompasses all types of harassment including sexual, religious, racial, bullying, stalking, national origin, sexual orientation, and disability. These types of harassment are defined below. |
| Racial Harassment: Racial or color harassment can include unwelcome verbal, written or physical conduct, directed at the characteristics of a person's race or color, such as nicknames emphasizing stereotypes, racial slurs, comments on manner of speaking, and negative references to racial customers. |
| Religious (Creed) Harassment: Harassment on the basis of religion or creed is unwelcome verbal, written or physical conduct, directed at the characteristics of a person's religion or creed, such as derogatory comments regarding surnames, religious tradition, or religious clothing, or religious slurs, or graffiti. |
| Sexual Orientation Harassment: Harassment on the basis of sexual orientation is unwelcome verbal, written or physical conduct, directed at the characteristics of a person's sexual orientation, such as negative name calling and imitating mannerism. |
| Disability Harassment: Disability harassment includes harassment based on a person's disabling mental or physical condition and includes any unwelcome verbal, written or physical conduct, directed at the characteristics of a person's disabling condition, such as imitating manner of speech or movement, or interference with necessary equipment. |
| Stalking: Stalking is a form of harassment which is being more commonly reported. It involves pestering an individual, either in person or in writing or electronic formats or on the telephone. Stalking can also involve following an individual or spying on them, alarming the recipient or causing them distress and may involve violence or fear of violence. |
| H.O.P.E.s mission is creating a link of education and awareness between parents, teachers, and students should set a foundation which allows for the possible reduction and eventual dissolution of such problems within our schools. It is our goal to create peer groups within the educational system that offer a place for victims of harassment to vocalize their concerns and to feel as if their problems are receiving the proper attention they deserve. Teachers and parents play a key role in this program in that they are the adult leaders whose responsibility is to listen and then to act. It starts with the environment kids are in! |
| Stopping the harassment is the ultimate goal, but giving victims a voice that is heard, is the first step. Words without action are useless, so putting this program into effect is a priority that needs to be implemented into school systems immediately. Eventual plans include local H.O.P.E. clubs in schools, a web site and message board for students to voice their concerns anonymously, proper punishment for those doing the harassing, support for the individuals being harassed, and weekly or monthly meetings open to parents, teachers, and students. This has only just begun…. |
| Help us give H.O.P.E. to those who need it! |
| * H.O.P.E has been in the works for the past two years and was officially established on August, 10th 2004 by founder Brittany Mason |