The students at Gateway Regional High School are participating in a program designed to reinforce healthy and supportive behaviors in peer and dating relationships.
Dubbed the “healthy relationship social norm campaign,” the program helps to expose and correct a “perception gap” in which students incorrectly perceive their own attitudes toward healthy interpersonal behavior as being very different from the majority of their peers, when in fact it is not.
Typically, an individual will overestimate the existence of unhealthy attitudes of the majority, while healthy or protective attitudes behaviors are underestimated. The problem then, is that this misperception becomes normalized and accepted.
This perception gap was revealed in an anonymous survey that 280 students took in May.
“For example, we found that 89 percent of the students really don’t like trash talk, but 69 percent of them think that others are fine with it,” said Monica Moran, coordinator of the Southern Hilltown Domestic Violence Task Force. “If we can correct the perception, and shift what one perceives as a social norm to one that is a reality based, we can impact behavior.”
The perception gap played out in a similar fashion when the survey questions asked how students felt about jealousy, controlling behaviors and issues of consent.
Using that data, students have created a 10 poster series with messages about how the majority of students actual feel about a variety of issues related to healthy relationships.
The first poster just came out featuring information on “trash talk.” The nine others will be rolled out during the rest of the school year.
“We just started getting the adds out, and I have already noticed that there is a lot of discussion happening,” said guidance counselor Megan Wasiak. “They are really invested in talking about healthy relationships, and students having the space do that is important.”
Moran said that the program is about being proactive when it comes to reinforcing healthy attitudes and behaviors
“It is important to say that Gateway does not have issues with dating violence or unhealthy dating behaviors any more than any other school,” she said. “This is just us taking preventative steps.”
If ice skating and ice fishing are your cup of tea, you may want to check out these two events.
Fire and Ice: A community skating party on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m at the ice rink behind the old Helen E. James School in Williamsburg. There will be skating activities, a bonfire with hot cocoa and s’mores, a potluck dinner at beginning 6 p.m., and games and crafts from 7 p.m. to 8.p.m.
The 23rd Annual Ice Fishing Derby: Sponsored by the Williamsburg Rod and Gun Club, the derby will be held on Sunday Feb. 12, at the DAR in Goshen.
Tickets are $15 and kids under 10 are free. The event begins at dawn and runs until 2 p.m. A gas-powered ice auger will be awarded for biggest catch of the day, with several other prizes, cash and raffle items to be given out.
Ideas for this column on life in the hilltowns can be sent to Fran Ryan at fryan.gazette@gmail.com