Victory over Violence exhibit empowers students to act non-violently

The Molokai High School Victory over Violence exhibit will come to a close today when the Adachi family will release their colored pigeons in the high school parking lot. That is scheduled for 12:15 p.m.

This marks the end of a two-week program that focused on offering students an option to bullying and physical violence. It featured an ohano night to create a community dialogue, an exhibit, a Victory over Violence peace pledge and a special performance Monday from a group called IChoose.

These performers, many of them recent high school graduates themselves, talked to Molokai students during advisory periods about active and passive violence and different strategies to avoid violence. The IChoose group then performed a 20-minute mini musical for the whole school showing the impact that any individual can have in counteracting violence and discrimination.

After the performance, the performers said they felt so much aloha from the students that they wanted them to know how much they appreciated meeting and talking with them.

I had the opportunity yesterday to ask a group of Molokai High School students about their impressions of the Victory over Violence program. Many believe violence and bullying is a serious problem at the school and elsewhere. Over half of the group of 11 juniors I spoke with said they felt that bullying was a real problem at Molokai High School. Those in the group who said bullying is not a problem at all were all boys.

The Victory over Violence program, one student said, taught them to speak up for themselves and to take action when a problem arises. Some students said a greater security presence on campus would help the situation at Molokai High School.

Category: Schools