Comments from Teachers involved in the Teachers' Pilot Program
Comments from teachers involved:
"The format was good and easy to use. As a secondary teacher, there is often a lot going on. Often all I had was 10 minutes to prepare and I could quickly read through the notes, take in the chapter and engage the children from there."
"Overall, there has been a huge improvement with relationships within the class since doing the program. Students are more confident, they state what they are feeling and there are no put-downs."
"Looking back over the five week pilot, it was a happy time, where many of the values I have been working on in our religious area were really reinforced. It has created a common language and has given students a way to articulate what they are thinking."
"I noticed that the behaviour of the students improved and they now refer to the Magic Rules as common terms in the classroom. When students come to me about being bullied, we can discuss their own personal ownership of the problem."
"As a teacher, I am also finding these tools are helping to bring insights into my own life."
"The experience will impact on the students in the future, because they bring lifelong tools that everyone can use throughout their life."
"Finally, a solution that gets to the heart of bullying and other stressors faced by our children in the schoolyard today. The concepts are spot on, powerful in their intent and simplicity. In just five pilot sessions, 75% of the students involved showed a marked improvement in their self-esteem, sense of empowerment and control over their lives. They are now much happier and better able to cope with stressful situations! Introduction to schools as a core life skills subject I believe will bring remarkable shifts in the attitudes and behaviour of our students".
Comments from students involved:
“I loved this program!!! It has helped me change my whole life around and helped me feel very free. Thank you”.
“I think that when I’m bullied they may be having a bad day. When I see bullies I used to feel scared, now I’m not”.
“I have learned to feel confident in my life, smile and set goals for myself. I feel happier. I can do more things that I couldn’t do before”.
“Don’t label people and don’t care what other people think about you, just be yourself”.
“I know now that one-one else has to like everything about me or agree with me all of the time and that we are all entitled to our opinions”.
“I have learned that everyone goes through bad stuff in their life. This program has helped me to understand what to do and say to help them. I have become more positive”.
“I have learned that people think differently and it’s made me realise that there are some good things that I can live for”.