Alternating between deep and gravelly and squeaky and heliumlike, Jay Bank's voices kept his young audience in stitches Friday as he taught them about bullying.
"The best definition I ever heard of bullying was from a kindergartner ... 'Bullying is when somebody tries to be the boss of you,'" Banks told students in kindergarten through second grade at East Ridge Elementary School.
Banks, who does professional development for educators across the country, was on hand Friday to kick off a bullying prevention program called Olweus that administrators are implementing at elementary and middle school campuses across Hamilton County.
He spoke to about 400 students about his program "STAMP out Bullying," which stands for:
* Stay away from the bullies.
* Tell someone.
* Avoid bad situations.
* Make friends.
* Project confidence.
Throughout his presentation, Banks also spoke to teachers. He said other schools that implemented the Olweus program saw bullying incidents reduced by 50 percent. Banks is an independent contractor who does not work for Olweus.
"Teachers, at about third grade, [students] don't tell on bullies anymore," he said. "The research says the No. 1 reason is because they don't think teachers care."
Hamilton County Schools officials knew bullying was an issue long before two middle school students wrote letters to Superintendent Jim Scales last week asking for help against bullies. The system began using the Olweus program last year.
Olweus helps teachers and students tell the difference between bullying and peer conflict, while allowing administrators to track incidents of bullying and identify trends they need to address, said Karen Glenn, the district's director of Students Taking A Right Stand.
"We were hearing more incidents of bullying ... 20 percent of students report that they've been bullied," Glenn said. "When you think about how a student can feel socially isolated, that's alarming."
In Olweus, a handful of teachers are trained from each school, then go back and train the rest of the school. Individual teachers have classroom discussions with their students as well.
By the end of the year, Glenn said, she plans to have 23 elementary and middle schools up to speed on the program.
Annie McNeil, who teaches first grade at East Ridge, said she likes that the Olweus program is aimed at the students.
"To teach kids to say, 'I don't like this, stop it,' that's a real good skill for first grade," she said.
Second-grader Chase Lowery said his favorite part of Friday's kickoff at East Ridge was the funny man and his voices. But when asked about his experience with bullies, he said he's been able to avoid them so far.
"Nope, I've never seen one, and I've been here since kindergarten."