Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block addresses gangs, violence, bullying, prejudice and school safety in educational programs for elementary and middle school aged children. Using the non-threatening medium of puppetry, the programs present information in an age appropriate manner and offer children the opportunity to ask questions about difficult topics through interaction with the puppets.
“Our goals are to encourage open communication, provide accurate information, encourage acceptance of physical, social and cultural differences, build self-esteem, empower action and keep children safe. Using the power of puppetry, our mission is to educate children about social concerns and differences, giving them the skills to stay safe and healthy,” says Kelly Williams, executive director.
“With gangs, violence, prejudice and bullying increasing in our community, it is important to provide early education for children in an effort to build positive self-esteem and teach them to resolve their differences, all in an effort to help them avoid violent situations and gang involvement.”
The Kids on the Block programs on Gangs, Violence, and Prejudice is designed to help children stay out of gangs by discussing the dangers of gang involvement, building positive self esteem and teaching them to resolve disagreements, as well as promoting the avoidance of prejudice and stereotyping.
The program on Bullying and School Safety is designed to explain and define what constitutes bullying, examine problem solving techniques, encourage children to talk about their feelings and about unjust situations, provide intervention strategies to adults and children, promote self-esteem and increase awareness and acceptance of human similarities and differences.
For the past several years, CKOB has provided the bullying program for children in fourth through six grades. According to Sue Ivey, program director, in working with local and area schools, community leaders and educators, it was requested that CKOB provide a bullying program for first grade students.
“Through a grant from the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga, we were able to offer a bullying program for first grade students, and we have already exceeded that grant goal. It’s one of the most requested programs for this year,” says Ivey.
Research indicates that children are developmentally able to react to characters that are peer role models. During the performances, says Williams, children see the puppet characters as their friends and are able to open up to them and ask questions. Each child is provided with letterforms to write to the puppets following the performance. Each letter is scored and evaluated using “key phrase” tools developed in cooperation with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Any requests for help are immediately turned over to the proper authorities.
Through these letters, it can be determined if there has been a positive change in knowledge, attitude and behavior. CKOB statics show that 63 percent of the children show a positive change in knowledge, attitude and behavior following a Kids on the Block performance.
Last year, CKOB surveyed local high school students to help determine the effectiveness of programs seen as an elementary or middle school student. The survey showed 75 percent of the students surveyed said seeing Kids on the Block programs helped them in making responsible decisions and making positive and healthy lifestyle choices. It showed 77 percent of the students said the programs had a positive change in their attitude about the topics. It also showed program topics the students remembered: 78 percent, bullying; 48 percent, accepting differences; 45 percent, problem solving; 40 percent, personal safety and self-esteem; 37 percent, alternatives to violence; 34 percent, divorce; 28 percent, depression; 23 percent, teen pregnancy; 22 percent, organ donation; 19 percent, prejudice; and 18 percent, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
“We look forward to working with the various organizations in our community to help education children and adults on the dangers of gangs and bullying,” says Williams. “We are here to keep children safe and healthy, and together, we can accomplish that.”
CKOB practices a form of Japanese puppetry called Bunraku (pronounced “boon-ra-ku”). The puppeteer dresses in black from head to toe and becomes the shadow behind the hand and rod puppet. KOB puppets consist of characters that are three to four feet tall. They dress in real kids’ clothes, have distinctive personalities and portray for children (through carefully scripted material) a world of real life situations.
CKOB has been performing educational programs since 1979, and has appeared before over 900,000 children and adults in 14 counties throughout Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. For more information, visit www.kidsontheblock.net.