Old Colony Archives
Students find peers a calming influence
New anger management program helps to cool tempers
By Jonathan Darling, Standard-Times correspondent
April 12, 2004
ROCHESTER -- They gather in a tight circle to discuss uneasy matters.
Sharing anecdotes, cookies, juice and philosophy, what the small group hopes to achieve is to develop the tools to keep anger in check. It's not always easy. Tempers can flare, and voices can rise.
The anger management program at Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School is all about dealing with such feelings.
Teenagers meet to discuss a wide range of issues, but the goal is to talk about what is really bothering them and weighing on their minds.
Frequent topics of discussion include arguments with teachers and authority figures, stress stemming from academic or family problems, teasing, and other adolescent issues such as relationship drama.
"This is a place where we can talk and help each other out," one student said during a recent session (For privacy reasons, students' names are not used in this report).
The school's guidance department oversees the program and discussions are led by guidance counselor Anne Spirlet and school adjustment counselor Melissa Whelan.
"It's a very good outlet for some students to express their feelings," Mrs. Whelan said. "They get to talk about what bothers them and get positive feedback from their peers."
There are two separate anger management groups, one for female students, one for male. The issues are pretty much the same in each group: Stress from school work and family problems. But, guidance counselors say, there are differences in the groups.
The female group's problems tend to center around relationships, while they say the male group tends to listen to each other more and have anger issues.
Counselors hope to combine the two into a single discussion group.
Parents are notified of their child's willingness to participate before the program starts. They have the option of not allowing their son or daughter to attend. Some students volunteer for the discussions, while others are selected because of behavior or anger problems evident in school.
Angst-ridden teenagers wrestle with all types of problems, and often feel awkward or embarrassed to share their feelings, counselors said.
"It lets students know they're not alone, not the only ones with issues," Mrs. Spirlet said. "They form bands of added support with one another."
One of the coping strategies counselors try to express to the students is exercise. Running around or lifting weights can relieve stress, anxiety or anger. Mrs. Spirlet said she would rather have students hitting a punching bag than a locker.
Some students expressed that they get angry less frequently since attending the discussions. They also mention that they turn to other students in the group for support in times of stress or anger.
Some parents of attendees also have noted that their child has shown less anger and aggression since the group started.
Photo by Jack Iddon, The Standard-Times - (top right):
Led by guidance counselor Anne Spirlet, right rear, and school adjustment counselor Melissa Whelan, students in Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School's anger management program meet to discuss a wide range of issues.