School bully problem? Send in the clown

[flashl]

Marvin Nash - a.k.a. Starvin' Marvin - has been a professional rodeo clown for some 30 years, entertaining fans and protecting bull riders at great risk to himself.

By BOB MOEN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Last updated August 3, 2008 12:33 p.m. PT

CHEYENNE, Wyo. --

...

Hoping to prevent the kind of violence that has erupted on school campuses in recent years, Nash has developed his "Bullying Hurts" program that emphasizes youth mentoring and nonviolence. The program has been taught in some 300 schools in 37 states.

"So many people think that bullying is just a rite of passage," Nash said. "Kids have feelings too. And so that's what we try to do is help them channel and be able to discuss and find a solution that works for them."

The goal is to help kids learn to handle bullying at a young age, so they are less likely to explode into violent retaliation later. In addition, young bullies might come to realize their antics are hurtful and stop before they become too destructive.

"That's the key to the whole thing, that violence is never the answer," Nash said.

[glowing]

1. Sounds like another "moneied" scheme. I'd like to see the results?

How effective is the program? Cost- Benefit Analysis.

[flashl]

2. The 300 schools and 37 states part caught my eye. Hopefully, it is less costly than zero tolerance.