
Eyes Wide Open
The “Hands Are Not For Hitting” Program
By C.R. Chisholm, Jr.
Jan/Feb 2009
Hands Are Not For Hitting is a new program offered free of charge through the Athens-Clarke County Solicitor General’s Office. The program is an annual puppet show designed for kindergartners and first graders regarding bullying. It addresses non-violent solutions to bullying, as well as the act of bullying itself. The program also addresses violent behavior that some children witness and learn in homes that have domestic violence. One study of 2,245 children and teenagers found that recent exposure to violence in the home was a significant factor in predicting a child’s violent behavior. Nationally, 3.3 million to 10 million children are exposed to domestic violence each year. Children are present in 41-55 percent of homes where police intervene in domestic violence calls.
On a local level, domestic violence is also a persistent and dangerous problem in our community. As the Athens-Clarke Solicitor General, I initiated this program because my office prosecutes most of the domestic violence cases in Athens, and we see plenty of these cases where a child is a witness. In 2007, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department received approximately 1,350 calls related to domestic violence.
A number of studies show that individuals who are violent in their adult years witnessed violent behavior in their homes as children. Many of these children start modeling this behavior through bullying. Children who are exposed to domestic violence are more likely to exhibit behavioral and physical health problems including depression, anxiety and violence toward peers. Additionally, a child’s exposure to the father abusing the mother is the strongest risk factor for transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next.
As a result, we are looking for different ways to prevent domestic violence instead of just prosecuting it, and the Hands Are Not For Hitting program is a big step in creating educational and preventative measures. The short-term goal is to address bullying in an age-appropriate way to help create an environment in which all students will feel safe learning. The long-term goal is to serve as a tool for early intervention regarding aggressive behavior with a mind toward changing a culture of violent behavior that seems to transcend generations when it comes to domestic violence cases.
Currently, students in the Early Childhood Care and Education program at Athens Technical College volunteer to do the shows as part of their curriculum. Additionally, this program has received financial support from the Athens Rotary Club, private donors and financial pledges from both the Optimist Club and the Athens-Oconee Junior Woman’s Club.
Because domestic violence is such a serious issue in our community, there are many local agencies available to assist people with domestic violence issues. For more information about your personal safety, please contact Project Safe at their 24-hour hotline: (706) 543-3331. Project Safe provides free, confidential information and advocacy including shelter, support groups, safety planning and education. If you are a victim of a crime and need information about a criminal case or community resources, please contact the Victim Witness Program at the Solicitor General’s Office of Athens-Clarke County at (706) 613-3222.
The Solicitor General’s Office and caring community members that make the Hands Are Not For Hitting program possible recognize that education is one of the most important ways to curb the disturbing trend of rising domestic violence. Our hope is that by engaging our community’s youngest citizens, we can strengthen our fight to end domestic violence and its effects on our community.
If you would like more information about the Hands Are Not For Hitting program, please contact C.R. Chisholm at the Solicitor General’s Office at (706) 613-3215.
C.R. Chisholm is the Athens-Clarke County Solicitor General who is responsible for prosecuting misdemeanor crimes. He and his wife Amy have two children, Thomas (4) and George (15 months).
|