Dear Educator:

Bullying among adolescents is a growing problem in schools, leading to fights, confrontations, and even shootings. Studies show that between 15 and 30 percent of school students are bullies or victims of bullying. You can help middle school- and junior high school-age girls in grades 6-8 better cope with bullying and reduce the occurrences of relational aggression by establishing a Club Ophelia in your school.

Penn State's Ending the Girl Wars: Club Ophelia Training Program will give you the tools needed to create a Club Ophelia group in your school. Club Ophelia can help middle school- or junior high school-age girls who are victims of bullying, or who are bullies themselves, deal with and avoid situations of bullying or relational aggression by exploring ways to improve their relationship skills.

I have worked many years observing the cause and effect of aggressive behavior in women who are in prison or other settings. This brought me to a realization that intervention must begin early in life, when girls are developing relationship styles that can persist throughout their lifetime and may result in continued aggression and negative consequences.

Please spread the word about this important course by sharing this Web site with your friends.

Please join the Elizabethtown School District and others across the state in helping your school district reduce relational aggression and build self-esteem among your students. If you have any questions about this program, please contact me at 717-531-8778 or by e-mail at cdellasega@psu.edu.

Sincerely,

Dr. Cheryl Dellasega

Professor of Humanities
Penn State College of Medicine
Hershey Medical Center

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This page was last modified on Monday, September 7, 2004.