Primary Schools
REAL HOPES
FOR PRIMARY/ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
The REAL HOPE Program
| Overview of the Program | Areas Explored in the Program | Teaching REAL HOPE |
| The Aims of REAL HOPE | REAL HOPE in Your School – Prices | Principals Endorsements of the Program |
“Bullying is recognised as a form of violent behaviour. In Australia, a study of 7,500 students reported that 20% of students aged between 5-17 years were bullied at least once a week. Bullying is considered more prevalent in Primary school.”
www.peacebuildersoz.com/papers/June99.htm
Overview of The REAL HOPE Program
The REAL HOPE Program is an innovative new program which combines clowning, peace, non-violence and anti-bullying. This program is likely to be the first program of its kind that centres around values, peace, non-violence, anti-bullying and clowning to inspire and instruct peaceful behaviours.
The program is delivered by ‘Peacefull the clown’. The clown is a powerful symbol of fun, equality, non judgement and that it is o.k. to make mistakes. The children are excited to see Peacefull each week and feel sad when it is time to say goodbye. Click here to view a slideshow of Peacefull with the children.
The program is endorsed by the famous American clown Dr. Patch Adams. Click here for a slideshow of Patch in Russia.
The REAL HOPE program is creative, stimulatory and bi-directional encouraging freedom of expression and exploration of who we are and how to deal with problems. It engages the children’s interest powerfully on many levels and is designed to ensure that children embody peaceful behaviours and become empowered to take responsibility for their lives and their impact on the lives of others.
The program is built upon accelerated and associative learning by linking:
- symbols, colour, jokes, questioning, positive thinking, philosophy, facts, mediation, role play activities, games, puppets, tricks, juggling and visualisation around core values.
The program revolves around the theme of anti-bullying, life skills and positive communication.
The clown image projects a positive, fun, friendly and safe image to children.
Areas Explored in the REAL HOPE Program
The program is comprehensive and in general explores the following:
- Problem solving: brainstorm session around values;
- Conflict resolution: mediation, role plays, power issues;
- Humour: telling positive non-discriminatory jokes to each other;
- Philosophy and facts;
- Emotions and expressing feelings;
- Communication skills;
- Perception and awareness;
- Non-violence and Gandhi’s example;
- Cooperation and unity;
- War and peace;
- Exclusive and discriminatory behaviours;
- Enjoyment and clowning skills e.g. juggling;
- Visualisation and relaxation.
This program develops multiple intelligences such as: linguistic, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal (knowing yourself) and interpersonal (knowing others). In particular the program encourages emotional intelligence by showing love and speaking in a way that is kind and loving. Many children these days are not receiving enough love from their parents and may find themselves feeling unable to socialise with others easily. This program discusses values and explores the self and others. It emphasis’s conflict resolution and problem solving with an emphasis on perceptions and communications. It is a holistic course which recognises the vital importance of developing the whole person . Therefore, the purpose of life is to live to reach full potential and feel a happiness in life. Moreover, it is to the benefit of society that we raise functional, happy and fulfilled people who can actively contribute to enhancing our society and world.
Teaching REAL HOPE
The REAL HOPE program offers an innovative approach to teaching :
- Utilising the clown to engage the children on an equal level;
- Use accelerated learning techniques by linking: colours, symbols, positive thinking and use of auditory, visual and tactile activities;
- Using humour and positively to create a fun and stimulating atmosphere for learning;
- Using drama and props to enhance visual memory and increase active participation;
- Expanding learning about children through active ‘brainstorming’ sessions which record children’s perceptions and use of words. This information will be disseminated to parents in newsletters;
- Utilising games and activities that raise awareness and integrate a range of values;
- Emphasise nonviolence and peaceful behaviours as strength or power within;
- Actively teach anti-bullying by utilising of visual materials and role plays using puppets.
Professional Developmentis available for schools regarding how to teach creative arts in programs and a range of workshops on bullying, conflict resolution and wellbeing. Please visit Funny business workshops for further information click here.
The Aims of REAL HOPE
This program arose out of the realisation that children are not learning peace, values and life skills to cope with an increasingly complex world.
The aims of the program are:
- To instil positive proactive values to enable children to deal with conflict and project peaceful behaviour within the school and throughout their lives.
- To instil positive peace values in children to empower them to create a future world based on peace and non-violence.
REAL HOPE in Your School
Currently the program is being run in Primary Schools, however interest has been expressed for secondary schools. If sufficient demand this may be offered to secondary schools.
What is the recommended age group?
Grades 4, 5 and 6.
What is the duration of the REAL HOPE program?
The program is considered more effective over the 8 week period. There is greater opportunity of repetition over time and developing relationships between the children and Peacefull.
The program runs for:
- 8 weeks, 55 minutes per sessions, minimum of 2 classes per school;
- Tailored sessions with particular values which compliment the Curriculum Standards Framework;
- World Peace Clown Day program click here for to find out more.
What are the benefits for schools:
- The program is exciting for the children and actively teaches peaceful behaviours and anti-bullying;
- The program commits to the school for 8 weeks to ensure its effectiveness;
- A clown brings joy to the children and staff;
- The children receive a clown playbook to reinforce what is learned;
- A newsletter will be produced from the brainstorming session to go out to parents, therefore involving parents in the process;
- The World Peace Day is a great opportunity for Harmony Day (21 March) and World peace Day (21 September). It is a great opportunity to engage parents and the community to become aware of conflict resolution, anti-bullying and peaceful behaviours. In addition, the school may want to consider utilising media attention to report the event and further communicate the messages of peace and community building;
- The program raises the profile of the school in respect of bringing in programs that teach values to children.
What is the price of Peace and Non-violence?
REAL HOPE is an 8 week program and/or tailored sessions:
- $300 per class. It is priced to make this essential course accessible to all schools. (Note minimum of 10 to maximum of 30 children per class).
World Peace Clown Day program:
- $800 per day Involves the whole school and the day can culminate in a wonderful exhibition by the children or a play, role play or puppet show.
Whole School Consultancy available. A new and emerging area worth considering is developing Cultures of Peace (harmony) at your school.
Contact for further information contact here.
Principals Endorse the REAL HOPE program
The program has been run in both metropolitan and rural schools (refer below). The schools include: Government schools, Steiner, Montessori and Special schools. You are welcome to contact schools to find out more about the program.
A DVD is available which provides an overview of the program.
For detailed testimonials from schools and children click here .
For general enquiries click here .
Rural Primary Schools
David Taylor, Principal
Nungurner Primary School
(03) 5156 3232
mailto:taylor.david.g@edumail.vic.gov.au
Wes Vague, Principal
Ph: 5156 4327
Tambo Upper Primary School
Vague.wes.m@edumail.vic.gov.au
Rod Twining, Principal
Metung Primary School
(03) 5156 2259
Twining . Rodney.RJ@edumail.vic.gov.au
Debbie Nicholls, Principal
Swan Reach Primary School
(03) 5156 4287
Debra.Nicholls.DA@edumail.vic.gov.au
Michelle Martin, Steiner Teacher
Steiner School, Bairnsdale
(03) 5152 2828
mambelles@yahoo.com
John Kinniburgh, Principal
(03) 5157 9251
kinnaburgh.john.s@edumail.vic.gov.au
Melbourne Metropolitan Schools
Kate McCormack (current program in progress)
Brunswick North West Primary
(03) 9386 4624
Kay Doecke, Principal
Thomastown Meadows Primary School
(03) 9466 1810
Dianne Davis, Principal
Plenty Valley Montessori School
Diamond Creek
(03) 9438 3202
principal@pvms.vic.edu.au
Ursula Wilks, Principal
Banyule Primary School
(03) 9459 0732
banyule.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
Karen Anthonsen, Principal
Reservoir East Primary School
(03) 9460 1569
anthonsen.karen.l@edumail.vic.gov.au
Marion Hadingham, Teacher
Heatherwood School (special school)
Grade 7 (03) 98428379