BYLINE:    VIKKI CONWELL
DATE: February 16, 2005
PUBLICATION: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA)
EDITION: Home; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
SECTION: Living
PAGE: E9

Puppets address abuse, bullying

A group of Gwinnett County volunteers is using their hands to show children how not to use theirs.

The group of retirees performs "Hands Are Not for Hitting," an educational puppet show designed to teach kindergarten through second-grade students about nonviolent conflict resolution. A joint project of the Gwinnett County Solicitor's Office and the Retired Educators Association, the program also aims to help children openly talk to adults about incidents of abuse or bullying in school or at home.

"Everyone has the right to be safe," said Pat Greene, program coordinator. "The hope is that the children will learn a lesson and that the message will be passed on to their parents."

At the end of each 30-45 minute presentation, students are given an activity book that reinforces the nonviolent message and also includes contact information to report domestic violence. Several children are also allowed to tour backstage prior to the show and meet the volunteer performers.

From mid-October through the end of the school year, more than 21 volunteers perform the show at about 50 Gwinnett schools, reaching about 14,000 students.

A special script was created for visually impaired and autistic children, and the show is being adapted for third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students.

In 1998, chief assistant solicitor Rosanna Szabo brought the program to Gwinnett County after learning about a similar program in Duluth, Minn.

Domestic violence is a crime prevention issue, said Szabo, referring to statistics that children raised in violent homes are 74 percent more likely to commit crimes against persons as adults. In Gwinnett County, children are present 60 percent to 70 percent of the times that police intervene in domestic violence calls, compared to 40 to 50 percent of the time nationally.

"It's a common denominator in predicting later criminal behavior, but it's also an indicator of children's behavior at school," she said. "I wanted them to hear the message in more than one way, and puppets are a great way to communicate with [young] children."

Victims' advocates and other volunteers performed the shows with help of school counselors, until two years ago when a partnership was formed between the county and the GCREA, who volunteer about 1,000 hours a year with the program.

"It has grown tremendously with their input," said Szabo of the program's expansion into more schools. "They not only have the desire and the interest, they have exceptional and unique expertise that I lack as a prosecutor. It's been a partnership made in heaven."

• Information: Gwinnett County Retired Educators Association, 770-972-6323.; www.gcrea.com.