Courageous Community Conference
Sunday, 6:30 p.m.: Paul Coughlin will speak to the Chattanooga community on the real world of bullying, with question and answer to follow, in the Silverdale Sanctuary.Monday: Paul Coughlin will speak to area youth pastors about bullying and the role of the youth pastor in the Silverdale Student Ministry Building.Tuesday, 8:30-10 a.m.: Paul Coughlin will speak to area school counselors about bullying and the role of the counselor in the Silverdale Student Ministry BuildingWednesday, 8:30-10 a.m.: Paul Coughlin will speak to school principals and administrators about bullying and the role of school leadership in the Silverdale Student Ministry Building.For more information, visit www.silverdaleba.org/www/docs/367Source: Silverdale Baptist Academy
In the wake of the assault of an Ooltewah High School freshman, Becky Hansard knew she wanted to do something for the community.
Hansard, director of schools at Silverdale Baptist Academy, said after hearing news of the assault, she began to think about the curriculum Silverdale uses to teach students the importance of standing up to bullying, and she wanted to find a way to share the training.
It only took a few phone calls and several donors stepping forward for Hansard to realize bringing the curriculum’s author, Paul Coughlin, to Chattanooga was a possibility.
Coughlin is known nationally for his anti-bullying curriculum, “The Protectors,” and his book, “Raising Bully-Proof Kids.” He’s also an expert witness regarding bullying and the law, and is a Fox News analyst and contributor. He has been featured on shows such as “Good Morning America” and “Nightline” and in numerous publications, including The L.A. Times, The New York Times and Newsweek.
He will be the keynote speaker at the Courageous Community Conference kicking off Sunday night at Silverdale Baptist Church.
“My prayer is that this conference will bring healing,” Hansard said. “There are so many people hurt on such deep levels from what happened.”
Coughlin teaches that bullying is a cultural problem and not just a school problem, and he provides common-sense tools parents can teach their kids to stand up and prevent bullying, Hansard said.
Hamilton County school board member Donna Horn said she was thrilled when she heard Coughlin would be in town, and she arranged for him to speak to students at East Hamilton High School on Monday.
“I was so excited to take advantage of this opportunity for this high school,” Horn said. “Since this incident at Ooltewah, we need to be even more hypervigilant about this issue.”
Horn said she hopes having Coughlin here will help the community realize the importance of having substantial anti-bullying training incorporated into schools’ academic curricula, in addition to what the district is already doing.
“I’m hoping the kids will listen and act when they know that someone is being bullied or hazed, that they will be the voice for that child and stand up and do the right thing,” Horn said.
Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow on twitter @kendi_and.