Eastern Pulaski Schools recently held several powerful presentations led by Sergeant Terry Hall, a 28-year veteran of the Indianapolis Police Department and former director of the child neglect and abuse prevention program “Good Touch-Bad Touch.”
Terry Hall is the founder and presenter for the “Body Safety Program” which teaches children of all ages important lessons about body autonomy and inappropriate behaviors that should be reported.
Superintendent Dan Foster explained that Hall presented at the elementary and middle schools last year and this year they were able to have him speak at the high school level, thanks to grant funding.
Foster spoke very highly of Hall, saying that he was able to effectively incorporate the same kind of lessons in different ways to address a variety of age groups.The superintendent said that while in Winamac, Hall was able to present the same topic to kindergartners and adults and every age in between, without making people uncomfortable or confused with this very difficult topic.
Foster added that over the last few years, the programs have resulted in some students coming forward and talking to counselors and staff members about incidents in their lives.
Foster explained, “There have been some things that have been followed up on after the presentations because some students have come forward and had some conversations with people saying ‘I’m not sure about this…’ and a report was made and looked into.”
Foster said it was the Rural and Low Income Schools Grant that allowed the Body Safety Program to be implemented at the high school this year. He recently re-applied for the grant and is awaiting notification of whether or not his application is acceptable. He said he hopes that funds will be available again so they can continue to bring these types of programs to the schools.
