"I want to ask you, what would you do if that was you?" Darren Jones asked a College Heights second grade class.
Jones, a member of the Guardians of the Children, was talking to first and second graders about the "We Help Ourselves" program, known as the "WHO" program. From bullies to strangers, this program teaches elementary students how they can handle all types of bad situations.
"Situations that they could be in as far as being scared and an uncomfortable situation or a hurting situation, meaning physically hurt or emotionally hurt," said Jones. "And that they can talk to different adults that's available to them."
Jones said that the most important lesson he had for the kids today, though, was not to be afraid to go to an adult, and that these kids don't have to keep everything in. That's why programs like this are necessary.
"Kids need programs like this to help them know, help them realize that they can do different things to help themselves," he said.
A lot of the children had innocent answers for Jones. And while Jones said that this is good, that means "kids just get to be kids" and aren't experiencing hurt, the few cases that are need to be addressed early on.
"The kids really don't know that there are people out there willing to help them, that's ready to help them," said Jones. "They keep so much stuff in them that as they get older, they become troubled. And they have problems with school and society."
But the learning doesn't stop in the classroom. Adults in the community need to address all of these issues with their children starting at a young age.
"Be aware that the children in Abilene, they're a gift. They're our future and we need to look at them, we need to help them. We need to realize that no, we are in a small town but there are issues going on that need to be addressed."
Jones, a member of the Guardians of the Children, was talking to first and second graders about the "We Help Ourselves" program, known as the "WHO" program. From bullies to strangers, this program teaches elementary students how they can handle all types of bad situations.
"Situations that they could be in as far as being scared and an uncomfortable situation or a hurting situation, meaning physically hurt or emotionally hurt," said Jones. "And that they can talk to different adults that's available to them."
Jones said that the most important lesson he had for the kids today, though, was not to be afraid to go to an adult, and that these kids don't have to keep everything in. That's why programs like this are necessary.
"Kids need programs like this to help them know, help them realize that they can do different things to help themselves," he said.
A lot of the children had innocent answers for Jones. And while Jones said that this is good, that means "kids just get to be kids" and aren't experiencing hurt, the few cases that are need to be addressed early on.
"The kids really don't know that there are people out there willing to help them, that's ready to help them," said Jones. "They keep so much stuff in them that as they get older, they become troubled. And they have problems with school and society."
But the learning doesn't stop in the classroom. Adults in the community need to address all of these issues with their children starting at a young age.
"Be aware that the children in Abilene, they're a gift. They're our future and we need to look at them, we need to help them. We need to realize that no, we are in a small town but there are issues going on that need to be addressed."
