Ten-year-old Stephen Maier's ears perked up Wednesday when he heard the words to a song that reminded him of some bad things: "Don't Laugh at Me."
"Don't laugh at me, don't call me names, don't get your pleasure from my pain," went the words to the song by Peter Yarrow, a recording of which Maier's class heard during an assembly in the Turkey Hill School gymnasium.
The words struck a chord with Maier because teasing is something he's seen kids do.
"Some kids tease other kids," said Maier, who said he hasn't been a victim himself. "They call them names, or they don't talk to them."
Turkey Hill School will use a program developed partly by Yarrow -- of the group Peter, Paul and Mary -- to eliminate teasing, name-calling, bullying and badgering in the school environment, said Kim McKnight, Turkey Hill's psychologist.
Children will learn to resolve conflicts and disagreements respectfully and creatively in the program, called "Don't Laugh at Me," after the Yarrow song. It will be integrated throughout the existing curriculum, she said.
The state Department of Education is pushing the program, which began this week at Turkey Hill with state educators giving teachers and students an orientation, McKnight said.
Since Connecticut is a pilot state for the program nationwide, the state's education department is requesting that schools interested in implementing the program get more information, said JoAnn Freiberg, Connecticut program coordinator.
On Wednesday, students participated in demonstrations of how teasing and name-calling are bad. Freiberg told the story of a teased boy named Pedro, and teachers ripped pieces out of big paper hearts every time the children noted Pedro being teased.
By the end of the story, the paper hearts were unrecognizable, torn to shreds.
Children let their teachers know they heard an insult in the story by raising their hands.
Kids said the "Don't Laugh At Me" project will make childhood a nicer experience, all around. "It will help by reminding kids that it really hurts to get teased," said Aly Green, 11.
Kids need to compliment each other more and tease less, said Nicole Sanca, 11.
"You don't remember the good things, just the bad things that people say," said Sanca.
The "Don't Laugh at Me" program was developed by a group called Educators for Social Responsibility, in collaboration with Yarrow and education experts.
The program is designed for use with elementary and middle school students.
It will help children recognize intolerance due to personal differences, understand that differences are positive, develop empathy for others who are different, and learn that ridicule is hurtful, Freiberg said. The differences may be simple, such as wearing braces, having freckles or being overweight.
Officials said the kids will benefit from the program as a form of character education.
"I think kids need to get attention, and they may tease because they believe they can feel better about themselves if they tease somebody," said Freiberg, who said kids can learn not to do that.
School administrators interested in the "Don't Laugh at Me" program can call (860) 674-8527.
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