‘Lucky Duck’ Helps Teach Students About Respect, Bullying, Strangers

COLD SPRING – As far as over 100 third graders at the Maud Abrams Elementary school are concerned, it was a wise-cracking yellow duck named “Lucky Duck” and a magical man named “Mr. Mike” who kept them laughing Feb. 21. 
That was at a special assembly in the school cafeteria. To Principal John King it was a great way to introduce and reinforce three lessons that will protect children throughout their childhood journey to adulthood. 
Creative Safety Products has been providing the “Officer Phil” program to Lower Township students for 36 years. The program’s topics this year are Respect, Bullying, and Stranger Awareness.
Michael McDade, known as “Mr. Mike,” with the assistance of Officer Jennifer Anzelone of the Lower Township Police Department for this presentation, has been performing for the students for over 20 years. McDade integrates magic tricks into the program that are designed to help children relate to why respect in and outside the classroom is key to avoiding bullying others. They learned how to stop it when others pick on them.
Using practical examples, and a series of crafted questions, McDade sees to it that the children understood why those actions are so hurtful; he also explains the concept of being aware of strangers and how some may trick them into a dangerous situation.
McDade stressed the importance of remembering what a stranger looks like by having them suggest how to draw a stranger’s face on a special sketch board.
After completing the picture with a marker and testing the children’s memory of what they had suggested for the nose, eyes, ears, etc., McDade managed to make the drawing board face come alive and talk to the students. He then wiped the board clean which muted the “talking drawing” much to the delight of the youngsters.
After just 30 minutes that seemed much shorter, Mr. Mike reviewed the key concepts with the students, who seemed to have a much better grasp of the three lessons than they had when they entered the cafeteria.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.