Brief Synopsis
Many violence "prevention" programs target age groups that already experience violence as a way of life. However, it has become clear that by the time violence reaches a dangerous level it may be too late to combat the problem. The Lesson One Foundation's Skills for Life program is helping young kids to deal with the emotions and impulses behind violence before antisocial behavior gets out of control. With Skills for Life, kids are being taught basic life skills like self-control in an innovative and fun way. Find out how Skills for Life is putting real-world coping strategies in the classroom along with the ABC's.

Program
The Lesson One Foundation
Skills for Life Program
Director : Jon Oliver
245 Newbury St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 247-2787
Skills for Life is an elementary school based violence prevention program.

Story Contact
Jon Oliver, Executive Director
The Lesson One Foundation
245 Newbury St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 247-2787

Expert Contacts
Richard Lerner
Bergstrom Chair in Applied Developmental Science
Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development
Tufts University
105 College Avenue
Medford, MA 02155
617-627-5558
Email : rlerne01@tufts.edu.

Robin Einzig
Tufts University
Department of Child Development
Medford, MA 02155
(781) 395-8532
Email : reinzig@emerald.tufts.edu

Background

• In 13 out of 20 questions on a survey given to students who participated in the Skills for Life Program, statistically significant differences were shown between pre-treatment and post-treatment. These questions included evidence that the students were taking more responsibility for their actions, acting more respectful and controlled in their classrooms, and learning more self-confidence. (Evaluation of the Lesson One Foundation's Empowering Children to Survive and Succeed/Skills for Life. Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health.)
  
  
• The numbers of reported incidents per 1,000 students were similar for middle school and high schools for both serious violent and nonviolent crimes. National Center for Education Statistics, US Department of Education (http://www.nces.ed.gov)
  
  
• Aggressive habits tend to be learned early. By the time a child reaches second grade, the pattern for violence is often set. Once set, patterns of aggression can turn into a lifelong pattern of dysfunction. An aggressive child is far more likely to become an aggressive adult. Parent Time.
  
  
• A press release by the Department of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services from 1994 showed that every school day more than 150,000 students stay home because they are "sick of violence and afraid they might be stabbed, shot, or beaten." School Net (http://www.schoolnet.org/spr96_epidemic.html)
  
  
• Every day in America:
  5,388 children are arrested
  237 children are arrested for violent crime
  17,152 public high school students are suspended
  *based on calculations per school day (180 days of seven hours each)
  Every Day in America website of the Children's Defense Fund (http://www.childrensdefense.org/everyday.html)
  
  
• In Massachusetts the number of reported juvenile violent crime arrests in 1996 was 2,597. Children's Defense Fund (http://www.childrensdefense.org/states/data_ma.htm#youth)
  
  
• A survey by Children Now, October 1995 National Health and Safety Survey showed that 71% of 7-10 year olds fear they might get shot or stabbed at school or home. School Net (http://www.schoolnet.org/spr96_epidemic.html)
  
  
• 22% of 11-12 year olds said they knew someone their age who was in a gang. School Net (http://www.schoolnet.org/spr96_epidemic.html)
  

Related Coverage
Cloud, John. "For They Know Not What They Do?" Time Magazine. August 1998. Vol.152 No.8.
Discusses the culpability of young kids who commit crimes and points to lack of self-control, rather than confusing right from wrong, as the source of the violent behavior.

Lacayo, Richard. "Toward the Root of the Evil." Time Magazine. April, 1998. Vol.151 No. 13.
Asks the question "Why do kids kill?" and shows that for kids who lack self-control for aggression the excessively violent media may lead them to real life crime.

Smolowe, Jill. "Going Soft On Crime." Time Magazine. November, 1994. Vol 144 No. 20.
The article makes an argument for prevention programs as a means to combat violence as opposed to harsher punishments for crimes already committed.

Compiled by:
Elizabeth Curtis

Posted: April 10, 1999
Updated: February 15, 2000