Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/44777
For more information about MISP, or to see a schedule of upcoming trainings, including one in Denver, Colorado, January 28–29, visit the Massage in Schools Program website, www.misa-usa.com. The program's founders have also published a book, Touch in Schools: A Revolutionary Strategy for Replacing Bullying with Respect and for Reducing Violence (2010, Ur Publications and Programmes). may not be that intellectually gifted, are really good with massage. They gain new status among one another." HEALTHY TOUCH While the Massage in Schools Program has found success in Canada and abroad, it's been more slowly implemented in the United States. The American massage therapists who have been through the program's training are hoping that as more parents, teachers, and school officials learn about the benefits of massage for children, the school program will catch hold here as well. "The issue here is that we, as a nation, are touch-phobic," says Colorado massage therapist Laura Charlton, who learned about MISP during her training as an infant massage specialist. She is one of the first Americans certified to teach it. The problem, says this mother of two, is that in the United States, "touch in schools is forbidden." Charlton almost got the program into her children's school in suburban Denver, but at the last minute, the principal backed out, citing other parents' concerns. Charlton hopes that with some more parent education, she'll succeed in launching the program. "People want to see it in action here," Charlton says. "They know it's working in Europe and Canada, but they want to see it working in the States, too." Hetu thinks it's a shame that people are afraid of touch. "Touch is quite taboo in several cultures and sometimes people think that if we bring touch into schools it will teach children to have early sex and all sorts of things. But long-term, we know it's just the opposite, because children need touch," Hetu says. "It's part of who they are. We give them a healthy tool for touch." B S Rebecca Jones is a Denver-based freelance writer. Contact her at killarneyrose@comcast.net.