Canutillo ISD Tackles Bullying; Child Therapist Weighs In On Approach

It was a peaceful protest against bullying Friday morning at Bill Childress Elementary with the unveiling of the school’s new “peace garden.”

During the ceremony, Canutillo Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Damon Murphy was happy to report all the district’s students have completed the “No Place For Hate” program sponsored by the anti-defamation league.

Canutillo said it is the first district in west Texas to do so.

Murphy also said the children signed contracts to treat one another with respect.

“It’s our responsibility to show that we’re proactive,” he said.

But some of the fifth graders ABC-7 interviewed seemed a little more excited by the arts and crafts behind the project and peace garden instead of the underlying message.

“I got to paint bricks,” one fifth-grade girl exclaimed.

“Everybody was really excited that they got to paint a brick,” said another.

El Paso child therapist and clinical social worker Kimberly Brenner told ABC-7 when it comes to getting children to stop the bullying, educators need to keep in mind that children react better when told what they are allowed to do rather than what they are not.

“If you tell the brain, ‘don’t do something,’ it’s like giving the person the wrong answer first and then giving them the right answer. They can’t get the wrong answer out of their mind,” Brenner said.

And as for having children sign contracts?

Brenner said, “Ask any parent who’s had children sign a contract that they will behave at home and they will do their homework and see if it worked.”

Murphy admitted no program is perfect, adding he doesn’t expect “No Place For Hate” to stop bullying 100 percent. But he feels it’s a step in the right direction.

“It really shows that we’re moving forward, that we’re putting kids first,” he said..

While Canutillo ISD said it’s always had a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to bullying, it has, in addition, beefed up the way children can report bullies.

They can now do it on the district’s website.