No more stealing school lunches for former bullies | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua
No more stealing school lunches for former bullies
Sunset Junior High School students Japhet Simiona, 12, and Shiloh Nikora, 13. Picture: Ben Fraser (280605bf1)
By CHERIE TAYLOR in Rotorua
Bullying is a thing of the past for Rotorua lads Shiloh Nikora and Japhet Simiona.
The Sunset Junior High School boys have been taking part in a pilot scheme - The Youth Restorative Justice programme - run by Mana Social Services Trust to help them deal with their bullying ways.
But they may be among the last to benefit from the programme, with doubts over where future funding will come from.
The programme has been funded by Te Puni Kokiri (the Ministry of Maori Development), which says it is in talks with the Ministry of Education about it picking up the cost.
However, the ministry says it has never received an application for funding.
Meanwhile, both Shiloh and Japhet admit to using "standover" tactics in the past to get what they have wanted.
However, under the guidance of Mana Social Services that has changed.
Shiloh said the programme helped him realise the consequence of his actions.
"I'm glad that I have done it because now I have made friends with a lot of the kids I use to bully," he said.
"I've learned to deal with my anger and now I go home for lunch instead of taking it from other kids."
Japhet said he had also learned a lot on the programme, which includes a Clean Anger course, drug awareness education programme and a residential taiaha training week on Mokoia Island.
Sunset Junior High principal Peta Brown said the course had been invaluable.
In cases of unacceptable behaviour, it brought the victim and perpetrator together to resolve issues.
"I can't speak more highly of the programme. The results have been very effective. It offers everyone the opportunity to sit down and resolve conflict and then they are followed up by the people at Mana," he said.
The principal is disappointed the successful programme had ended.
"We are losing a great resource."
Mana Social Services Trust manager Maxine Rennie said the trial had been operating in Rotorua schools for the past two years.
"This is so disappointing. We started with a lot of resistance but we have created a programme that has worked and been welcomed," she said.
Originally, targeting Rotorua primary and intermediate schools, the trust had also gone into high schools. In all, 129 cases had been dealt with by the trust's two workers.
Recent reports had shown most juvenile crime was committed during school hours but the programme had helped to curtail suspensions and exclusions, said Mrs Rennie.
The Ministry of Education had been sent copies of evaluation reports on the project but had not responded.
"We just wonder what is going to happen to these kids now. Little bullies turn into big bullies if we don't catch them at at an early age."
Te Puni Kokiri spokesman Pere Mitai said it was now up to other agencies to pick up the programme.
Bullying is a thing of the past for Rotorua lads Shiloh Nikora and Japhet Simiona.
The Sunset Junior High School boys have been taking part in a pilot scheme - The Youth Restorative Justice programme - run by Mana Social Services Trust to help them deal with their bullying ways.
But they may be among the last to benefit from the programme, with doubts over where future funding will come from.
The programme has been funded by Te Puni Kokiri (the Ministry of Maori Development), which says it is in talks with the Ministry of Education about it picking up the cost.
However, the ministry says it has never received an application for funding.
Meanwhile, both Shiloh and Japhet admit to using "standover" tactics in the past to get what they have wanted.
However, under the guidance of Mana Social Services that has changed.
Shiloh said the programme helped him realise the consequence of his actions.
"I'm glad that I have done it because now I have made friends with a lot of the kids I use to bully," he said.
"I've learned to deal with my anger and now I go home for lunch instead of taking it from other kids."
Japhet said he had also learned a lot on the programme, which includes a Clean Anger course, drug awareness education programme and a residential taiaha training week on Mokoia Island.
Sunset Junior High principal Peta Brown said the course had been invaluable.
In cases of unacceptable behaviour, it brought the victim and perpetrator together to resolve issues.
"I can't speak more highly of the programme. The results have been very effective. It offers everyone the opportunity to sit down and resolve conflict and then they are followed up by the people at Mana," he said.
The principal is disappointed the successful programme had ended.
"We are losing a great resource."
Mana Social Services Trust manager Maxine Rennie said the trial had been operating in Rotorua schools for the past two years.
"This is so disappointing. We started with a lot of resistance but we have created a programme that has worked and been welcomed," she said.
Originally, targeting Rotorua primary and intermediate schools, the trust had also gone into high schools. In all, 129 cases had been dealt with by the trust's two workers.
Recent reports had shown most juvenile crime was committed during school hours but the programme had helped to curtail suspensions and exclusions, said Mrs Rennie.
The Ministry of Education had been sent copies of evaluation reports on the project but had not responded.
"We just wonder what is going to happen to these kids now. Little bullies turn into big bullies if we don't catch them at at an early age."
Te Puni Kokiri spokesman Pere Mitai said it was now up to other agencies to pick up the programme.
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