2/23 article

Farm City Days, USD 257 and Humanity House are presenting to the students of Iola and Humboldt the Serious Comedian, Keith Deltano, who will be addressing bullying, cyberbullying, and resilience. In Humboldt. the assembly will take place at the Fieldhouse on February 26th. On February 27th, Iola will have three student assemblies at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center for grades K–4, 5–8, and 9–12. 

On the evening of February 27th, a workshop will be held at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center for the parents of students. If you’re a parent in Iola, Humboldt, Moran, Colony, Chanute, and Yates Center, you’re invited, and your attendance is so very important for your child. This workshop begins at 6 PM and is free.Bullying affects every student in a school. Students who are bullied suffer from depression, anxiety, and loneliness. They may have changes in their sleep and eating patterns and lose interest in activities. These symptoms can carry over into adulthood. The bullied student has decreased academic performance and lower GPA and standardized test scores. They participate less in school. They are more likely to miss school, skip class, and drop out. Those who bully have their own set of problems. They are more likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs. They are more likely to get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school. They are more likely to engage in early sexual activity and have more criminal convictions and traffic citations. When they become adults, they are more likely to abuse their romantic partners, spouses, and children. They have increased tobacco, alcohol, and drug use.As if that isn’t enough, in a school where bullying occurs, even students who are neither bullied nor bullies are affected in adverse ways. They also have increased tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. They have an increase in mental health problems including depression and anxiety. They also are likely to miss or skip school. Every student is adversely affected: the bully, the bullied, and the bystander. In the United States, more than 3.2 million students are bullied. Every day, roughly 160,000 children do not attend school because of bullying.  Among students in grades 4–8, 90 percent report being bullied. One in 20 students drop out due to bullying. Physical bullying is most prevalent in middle school. Yet one in four teachers do not see bullying as a problem. Clearly, there is a disconnect. 

On February 27th at 6 PM at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, we are hoping that the parents, educators, and administrators in our towns will learn ways that we can make bullying a thing of the past. This has to be addressed. Obviously, bullying is detrimental to everyone. If we want our children to succeed in school, get the best education possible, and get a mentally healthy jumpstart at a good life, we have to make sure that we are doing everything possible for our schools to be a safe place for them to spend their days. Please make attending this free workshop a priority for the children that you love. Kindness Matters!