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Victim-Proof Your School
Violence Prevention Program

Testimonials

 

Does your school or school district need to implement a comprehensive program for reducing bullying or preventing violence? Our approach is both the simplest and the most effective you can find. Which means it will save you money. And it is the only truly American system, because it is the only one that supports Freedom of Speech, the cornerstone of our democracy.

Most other programs are based on protecting victims by waging war against bullies. We believe this approach is misguided and does more harm than good. Of course, It makes the victims happy when we go after the bullies. However, it weakens victims by teaching them to rely on others rather than themselves to solve their problems. It causes us to punish and alienate the "bullies," who are our own children no less than the victims are. Furthermore, most bullies are really victims, too — it's just that we blame them because they seem to us to be the more aggressive ones in the conflict.

Trying to protect kids from aggression by waging war against bullies is equivalent to trying to protect people from West Nile Virus by spraying the country with pesticides. It is expensive, time consuming, has many unwanted side effects. In fact, it may be causing more more harm than good. If there were a vaccination or antidote for West Nile Virus, no one would even dream of spraying as a solution.

But there is a "vaccination" against teasing and bullying, and it can be provided simply and cheaply to every child. It's called Victim-Proof Your School. When victims become immune to bullying, bullies can't be bullies. Often, the "bullies" turn into "buddies" of the former victims.

This is what Izzy Kalman, creator of Bullies2Buddies.com, can do for your school:

For School Staff:

• Provide school with new policy towards teasing and bullying that is based on wisdom rather than punishment, and leads to natural reduction in aggression
• Demonstrate how most of the aggression between children in school is unintentionally caused by the way staff handle students' conflicts
• Teach staff simple "magic responses" that result in a quick and dramatic decrease in aggression and to heightened resilience of students
• Teach school staff how to respond to parents' complaints that they are not doing enough to punish bullies, and enlist their aid in new policy

For Parents:

• Teach them how to use the new approach to quickly and easily end sibling rivalry between their own children at home
• Explain new school policy in a way that will earn their support

For Students:

• Teach kids the real cause of relentless teasing and bullying
• Teach students how to apply the principles of Freedom of Speech to defeat bullies and turn them into friends
• Instruct kids how to handle teasing, hitting, and rumors
• Instruct children how stop their siblings from harassing them at home while gaining increased respect from parents
• Provide emergency counseling to the children suffering most severely from bullying

For counselors:

• Multiply counselors' value value by training them in Izzy Kalman's copyrighted method that "cures" victims of teasing and bulling in a few short sessions
• Train counselors to present classroom lessons on Bullies to Buddies principles to eliminate aggression (regular teachers who are interested can also be trained to provide these lessons to classes)

Izzy Kalman is available to come to your school or school district to revolutionize the way it handles children's aggression.

Cost: Please call to discuss fees and expenses.

Also available as a boxed program with DVDs Trainer's Manual

Call (718) 983-1333 to discuss your organization’s needs, or click here to contact us by email.

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Testimonials

 

Thank you for working with the Jefferson School District in implementing the Bullies to Buddies program. Your work with our staff, students and parents was revolutionary, informative, proactive and extremely successful. Your strategies turn students into winners almost immediately. You have allowed our classroom teachers to get back to the business of teaching and have eliminated the need for them to be constant conflict managers.

In the days since you've been gone, I've witnessed students solving their own conflicts, non-violently, and without adult intervention. I've witnessed students feeling more empowered about their own ability to handle "bullies" and to feel as if they are part of the "in" crowd. I see students finally realizing that they had that power all along.

I have received many positive comments from parents who were involved in your parent trainings. They feel they have less conflict and more calm at home and have achieved this with minimal work at all. Many of the parents now realize how much they created the conflicts and contributed to the sibling rivalry that consumed their homes.

Personally, I have to comment on how your strategies are working in my own life. I have a much quieter ride home, my three year old and five year old actually have "real" conversations with each other where they decide how to share a toy or resolve a conflict and I don't have to spend my evening yelling at my kids. What parent wouldn't want that for him/herself?

Our staff, students and parents have been lucky to have you to work with us. Any school community that is actually ready to address the real issue in the bully problem needs to see your work!! It does not mean that staffs, students and parents will immediately believe that the problem can be solved so simply, but it can. Your approach requires a paradigm shift in the thinking of modern mankind. But, we really must admit that what we've been doing for the last ten years continues to fail us!!! This approach works. For the sake of our students, I hope all educators, parents, and students will give it a try.

Thank you,
Jane Steinkamp, Principal
The Jefferson School Tracy, CA
Dec. 10, 2001

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"Finally, a program that works near miracles in helping victims to deal with bullies. After more than two years of implementing Izzy’s principles, the students at William Snyder Elementary School smile at one another with confidence. Our school climate is pleasant and conducive to learning. Discipline referrals for bullying behaviors have decreased significantly. Teachers can now teach more because the kids are handling their own issues. And (drum roll here)...our test scores are going UP. In a school where the population is 63% Hispanic, our school reached every testing goal. In my 15 years as a school counselor, I have never seen a more effective social skills program. This one is pure genius.” - Jeannie Brewer, School Counselor, Snyder Elementary, Las Vegas, Nevada

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“We at PSI were so impressed with the simplicity and common sense of the Bullies to Buddies™ program that we had to make it our own. We have partnered with Izzy Kalman and Cleveland State University to bring this program to the thousands of students that PSI serves.” - Steve Rosenberg, PhD, Psychologist, President, PSI Solutions, Ohio

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“Of all the approaches to the problem of bullying, Izzy Kalman's approach stands out. It has worked wonders for my patients and friends alike.” - Doris M. Greenberg, MD, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician, Savannah, Georgia

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"This program has removed teachers from the middle of students' problems, no longer forcing them to choose who is right or wrong, and has helped students to regain control of situations and in turn their self esteem." - Colleen Pittman, M.Ed, Coordinator/Counselor, St. Raphael School, Louisville, Kentucky

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“Bullies to Buddies™ is the most effective anti-bullying program I have encountered in my 14 years as a school counselor. It gives victims the tools and strategies necessary to handle difficult situations, thus increasing their self esteem. Parents are thrilled and some of them are practicing the skills with their children. The teachers and aides feel relieved that they no long need to handle every tiny little tattle or situation. This saves an enormous amount of time in the classroom and children find that they have more time to play. The teachers not only used the strategies of Bullies to Buddies™ in their classroom but also with their husbands, children and exes.” - Vickie Kolb, School Counselor, Brandon Valley School District Brandon, South Dakota

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“I have conducted lessons from Bullies to Buddies™ throughout my school. The children thoroughly enjoy the lessons, really listen and participate, and use the skills daily. They get a kick out of "teasing" me, the counselor, as we do the role-plays; yet, they are learning as they have fun. They have felt empowered and I have personally seen significant changes in their self-esteem and social skills. I recommend this program for any educator working with children elementary age and up.” Julie Doody, Counselor, Elise Wolff Elementary School

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“I have seen every other program designed to stop this problem, but Izzy’s is the only one that works!” - Paul Reddick, Chairman, American Sportsmanship Association

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“A child was sent to me who had been teased by a whole group of children as a result of an incident at recess. I took him through the steps that I learned from Bullies to Buddies and within 15 minutes this child was able to go back to class and continue learning. The teacher was amazed at the transformation. I was able to teach the whole class the technique, which resulted in more time on task and more learning. The students got along better and the learning environment became more pleasant and enjoyable for everyone. Izzy is a master of making this learning fun and easy to teach.” - Malda Burns Rockdale Elementary School Counselor, Rockdale,Texas

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“Students are increasing their patience, compassion, and kindness towards other through applying your strategies. Our school is a better place because of Izzy's game! Thank you.” Mark Lane, LCSW-R School Social Worker, Guilderland Elementary School