Thank you.
Jim Harnage
Silent Ministries Recovery Outreach
Statenville, GA
Dear Honorable Senators Goggans and Golden, Honorable Representative Ellis Black, and Executive Editor VDT Ms. Kay Harris ;
My name is Jim Harnage. I am 53 years of age. I am a minister and an advocate for youth and victims of abuse, domestic violence, and victims of tragedy. After an injury in 2006 my ministry direction was radically changed. I have been forced retired and am in the SSA disability adjudication process. I am a resident of Echols County, a tax payer, and a voter. The Valdosta Daily Times has published several items on our outreach called Silent Ministries Recovery Outreach as well as several letters to the editor on teen violence and the responsibility of parents. (Another letter should be forthcoming in The VDT in a few days).
I have slowly been involved in small ways to address the teen violence, date rape, and bullying issue. After reading SB 120 sponsored By Senator Doug Stone, several sentences of which I outlined below, I feel that now might be an appropriate time to offer the idea of a Behavioral Report Card in connection with addressing the issue of teen violence and bullying and with the purpose of providing some type of early prevention and intervention measure.
SB 120 carries several components which I've provided in color below that might be useful in such a tool.
Below I provide a theoretical application using myself:
I am a troubled teen. I have little to no substantial role model. My dad beats my mom. I am abused. I have learned violence. I am raised in an isolated culture where spousal abuse is accepted as normal. My learned behavior has trained me that to dominate my girl friend, disrespect local authority and laws, and be arrested is not only accepted as normal but glorious. I receive a grade report each semester which determines whether or not I need additional preparation for graduation or repeat a grade. I am provided early intervention that should strengthen my academic weaknesses. However, nothing is provided for early detection and intervention of my anger and behavioral issues.
My parent(s) are called in to discuss my school issues but they aren't called upon to accept some joint responsibility for my behavior. My academic progress is tracked by my report card but no attention given to the two fights, one suspension, my academic disinterest, the school rumors that I hit my girl friend this weekend at the river, and the test I cheated on. There is no attention given to the track that I am on toward becoming a registered domestic violence offender and prison candidate. I wish that someone had helped me to notice the early warning signs. I would have loved to have had early intervention in school, anger management, and required counseling. But now I sit here before a judge who is requiring that I serve 6 months with mandatory counseling for simple assault and battery.
Behavioral Report Card: The behavior(s) I've learned at home such as violence is a learned behavior so I transfer this behavior, inadequacy, etc. to my school, class mates, girl friends, sports relations. My behavior is tracked. Have I been suspended? For what? How many times? Have I been accused of date rape? Number of times before the school counsel or principal, and so on. A Conduct Report Card or Behavioral Report Card might serve as a measure to determine if my parents and I should be called in for conference and discuss early intervention. My parents should be required to attend behavior class(es) with me.
Penalties: If I fail a report this may determine if I should be permitted to participate in sports. A poor grade might result in my requirement to attend Early Anger Intervention or Prevention courses. My parents should be required to attend. This will provide my parents an incentive to clean up their act at home because I learn my behavior from my parents.
The gist: A Behavioral Report Card might serve as an effective tool in the early detection, counseling, treatment, and prevention of certain or many acts of violence that I have learned at home. "Early Detection" and "Compulsive Parental Involvement" is key. End.
Senator Golden, I work on a private venue with kids who are learning poor behavior in their home. I see only a drop in the bucket compared to the issues on a state or national level. But I'd love to see Georgia take the first strong stand on the issue of bullying and violence. Our teachers, instructors, and administrators are successful educators. But their dedication can only serve the needs up to a point. Before and beyond that point I feel that it's time that emphasis be placed upon us parents as the missing link in our children's future not more money not more tests.
Violence, bullying, and behavioral issues at school are fast tracking to the front of the class. Drop out, drops in academic grades, and even suicide are a few of the disastrous results of school and teen violence. Educations costs, the cost of programs to address those who drop out from bullying, teen pregnancy, and violence, costs of special tutors, costs to the public taxpayer, will become systemic from this issue. More $$$ in economies that are strapped is not the answer. Early tracking, early detection tools and early prevention courses provided 'in school' would be useful combined with a school behavioral tracking system like the Report Card Grading System we have.
Though I am a minister I do not believe that we can legislate morality. But I believe that we can address those issues that bear directly on our educational system, the public, and most of all...the family.
The 2011 legislature will adjourn in a few weeks. I'm sure that a bill must be studied and there is a process even for study. I would ask you to please consider my thoughts and suggestions for the 2012 legislature if not before. I'd love to see you champion this matter. Maybe my thoughts and written suggestions would provide a point of lift off. I've prepared two publications that might assist called The Infusion Project and Batter Up for men who batter women. I would be happy to speak with you at a time of your convenience. Thank you for your attention in this matter.
Jim Harnage
http://jimharnage.ning.com/
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