Program Teaches Kids Personal Empowerment

Jessi Baldwin, 9, right, strikes Doug Gay, Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputy, as Cpl. Scott Santos gives instruction Thursday during a breakaway self-defense scenario for the children participating in the radKIDS program at Cooper Elementary School in Bella Vista.
Jessi Baldwin, 9, right, strikes Doug Gay, Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputy, as Cpl. Scott Santos gives instruction Thursday during a breakaway self-defense scenario for the children participating in the radKIDS program at Cooper Elementary School in Bella Vista.

— The young girl listened as deputies from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office told students they were special, that no one had the right to hurt them, that they should tell a “trusted adult” about problems.

Then it was her turn to talk.

At A Glance

RadKids Statistics

• More than 250,000 children have been trained in the radKids program nationwide.

• About 1,000 local children have completed the program.

• About 74 children radKids have used their skills to avoid being abducted or be returned safely to their homes.

• Thousands of sexually assaulted and abused children have spoken up to get the help the need to stop abuse.

Source: radKids.org

After pondering the officers’ words, the girl told her parents about the sexual abuse and the man who was hurting her. He was arrested and is serving a prison sentence.

This is just one success story from the radKids program, a national nonprofit group aiming to teach children how to protect themselves and instill self-confidence. The Sheriff’s Office Police Athletic League has administered the program locally for four years. In that time, it has reached about 1,000 children, according to Sgt. Nathan Atchison.

Atchison, Deputy Doug Gay and Cpl. Scott Santos spent the week working with a dozen children at Cooper Elementary School in Bella Vista.

The children lined up in two rows and settled into a martial arts-style defensive stance in the school gym Thursday.

“What’s rule No. 1?” Santos asked the students.

“No one has the right to hurt me because I’m special,” the children yelled in unison.

Santos led them through defensive drills with elbowing, kicking and punching as the children screamed, “No, no!” with each hit.

Atchison said the deafening roar of the students’ voices was a huge transformation from the beginning of the week. Many were shy when they started the program, reluctant to yell or hit the punching bags.

“As the week goes on, they learn more self-confidence,” Atchison said.

The 12 students spent 10 hours in the class over four days, culminating with a final test of their learned skills. Gay donned a red padded suit and prepared himself for blows from sharp elbows and small kicking feet.

“He looks like a Transformer,” the children laughed.

They weren’t laughing when their turn came to face Gay, who pretended to be a stranger trying to kidnap them.

“Your parents told me to pick you up. I’m a friend of the family,” he said just before grabbing at the children.

One by one, they yelled, kicked, pushed and punched to break away from Gay. Atchison and Santos encouraged them as they ran across the gym to a safe haven and asked for a cellphone from a bystander. They then pretended to dial 911 and tell emergency responders what happened.

The littlest radKid, 4 1/2-year-old Amber Williams, said she thought Gay was pretty scary. Her little legs whirled as she kicked at him, then she stood still and stared at him for a minute when he put her down.

“Run, run!” Atchison yelled.

She ran to Jeffrey Shaw, Cooper Elementary coach, and used his cellphone. Leah Williams, Amber’s mom, said her daughter had talked about the program all week.

“Oh yeah, she loves it,” Williams said. “She was sick one day and was so sad to miss.”

Williams, elected in November to the Bentonville City Council, is working with the Sheriff’s Office and the Bentonville School District to create more opportunities for the program in schools. Superintendent Michael Poore was on hand at the final class Thursday. He said he sees the program as giving students more role models in their lives and a support structure to fall back on.

The program pairs active physical defense skills with quieter lessons. Atchison read a story about a boy who was being sexually abused and his fear about telling others.

Santos quizzed the children after the story.

“If someone is hurting you, what do you do?” he asked.

“Tell a trusted adult,” one student yelled.

“And if that adult doesn’t listen, what do you do then?” Santos countered.

“Tell another trusted adult,” the children chimed in.

The program also touches on how to deal with bullying and school violence. One thing the officers reiterate is the skills are never to be used to hurt anyone, only for protection.

The Cooper program is the department’s 10th class this year, Atchison said. He said he would like to see it become a part of every student’s education.

The program was kick-started through a $10,000 grant from Walmart, Atchison said. It now relies on money through Police Athletic League fundraisers such as its annual haunted house.

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