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Students told 'take bullies by the horn' at youth conference

By Howard B. Owens

More than 400 middle-school students were at Genesee Community College this morning for the 2011 Genesee County Youth Conference.

Students heard a keynote speech by bullying expert Michael Nerney (pictured below during a workshop later in the morning with teachers) called "Taking the Bully by the Horns."

Then they broke into a series of workshops lasting less than an hour each in three consecutive sessions. The workshops included "Hmmm ... is this the right decision?", "Energy Smart Choices," "Who Wants to Make a Good First Impression?", "Building Your Potential," "Nutritional Jeopardy" and yoga.

Above, Joni Yaskulski leads a class through a yoga session.

Nerney's talk focused on adolescent brain development and the negative effects of bullying on development. The message was geared to the concept of changing social norms among middle-school students so that everyone, especially bystanders, understand that bullying is not acceptable nor is it harmless.

Students from Holy Family, Oakfield-Alabama, Batavia, Elba, Alexander, St. Joe's, Byron-Bergen, Le Roy and Pavilion participated in the program.

The conference was organized and sponsored by Genesee Youth In Action, 4-H, NYS Office of Children and Family Services, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Genesee County Stop-DWI.

Kelly Hansen

The list of organizers/sponsors differs from the one I noted on the permission slip which was sent home for parents to sign in order that students may attend the conference. The 2011 sponsors listed on the slip were (from memory, some may be omitted) YMCA, GCASA, GCC, Reality Check, Cooperative Extension, Batavia Youth Bureau and Planned Parenthood. My husband and I questioned the purpose served by having Planned Parenthood sponsor an event strictly targeting middle school aged children. Having just checked with the local newspaper website, I see that Planned Parenthood was indeed a sponsor. I cannot imagine that we are the only ones who were alarmed by their participation and question the wisdom (though intentions may be good) of having Planned Parenthood involved with school children.

Mar 15, 2011, 6:49pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

The program contains three sections in the column that says "thank you."

I took the top paragraph as "organizers and sponsors."

The second section of thank yous lists City of Batavia Youth Bureau, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, Genesee Area YMCA, Genesee Community College, Genesee County Youth Bureau, Genesee/Orleans Council on Substance and Alcohol Abuse and Planned Parenthood.

With each organization is listed one or more people who were involved in the program.

Perhaps, this is a matter of thanking individuals and the organizations they're associated with.

With Planned Parenthood, that would be Laurie Thornley and Theresa Asmus.

Asmus led a session titled "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Thornley is not listed as a presenter.

Additionally thanked for donations and funding were Upstate Milk, Lake Ontario Fruit, Inc., Lions Club, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club.

Mar 15, 2011, 3:50pm Permalink
Kelly Hansen

Thanks for the update Howard, it is much appreciated.

@Marie, what is an 'extremely appropriate fit' for some, is more than a poor fit for others. Our son knows plenty and we are not immersed in ignorance and wearing blinders. For us, Planned Parenthood (after much research) is a poor fit for a myriad of reasons. Thankfully, we live in the United States of America and are free to raise our children as we each see fit and in their best interest.

Mar 15, 2011, 4:38pm Permalink
Jeff Allen

"Planned Parenthood"...planned-having made preparations for something...parenthood-the state or position of being a parent. The only people who should be planning to be parents are at least(and I say this with extreme reservation) adults in a committed relationship and at best married couples. So you make a good point Kelly, what does that have to do with middle school kids. Perhaps it is time for an organizational name change.

Mar 15, 2011, 10:27pm Permalink

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