School violence week has lasting effect at Marlboro
BY ADAM RIBACK
Correspondent

MARLBORO — Conflict resolution, diversity and tolerance are just some of the important issues that were covered with the observance of this year’s School Violence Awareness Week. From Oct. 17-21, teachers and administrators throughout New Jersey taught students about violence in cooperation with a state mandate that requires organized activities to prevent school violence.

Staff members at Marlboro High School prepared a series of assemblies for students in all four grades that covered everything from Internet safety and bias crimes to relationship issues and drug-assisted sexual assault. Guest speakers addressed the students on relevant issues in today’s society.

The week was planned and coordinated by Ronni Knittel, Marlboro’s student assistance counselor, and Officer James Ferraro, the school’s resource officer.

“I think many students were touched by the messages they heard,” Knittel said. “In most of the assemblies you could hear a pin drop because they were getting relevant information that affects them.”

“The week was excellent,” Ferraro said. “The presenters this year really made a difference with the students. With funding from resources such as ADAPT, the community alliance and the Marlboro Police Department, we were able to provide the students with an entire week of topics that we felt were the most prevalent.”

One motivational speaker, Jeff Yalden, talked about responsibility and how it changes as a person matures. His powerful advice to the students was that “when you’re ready and willing to take responsibility, you’ll have the power to change your future.” Yalden also spoke about the issue of acceptance in high school and the constant need to feel liked. He told the students that “you don’t need to be accepted; all you need to do is accept yourselves.”

In addition to the assemblies, a “thought for the day” was added to the morning announcements. Every day a student would recite anti-violence or tolerance-related quotes from historic peace advocates such as Martin Luther King Jr. or they would read a violence-related statistic that often left many students in awe.

“Marlboro High School has a very active and involved school community. I feel that we are a very innovative school within a very supportive district. All the schools in the Freehold Regional High School District do a lot of prevention work,” Knittel said.

Ferraro discussed how he watched and spoke with many students who felt a personal connection with the messages being offered by the presenters.

“I think we are a progressive state in educating our students in topics and issues that aren’t always covered in classroom-type settings,” he said.

Judging by the reactions from students and faculty members, Knittel said she believed the weeklong effort was a success.

“The week left everyone with something to think about,” she said.