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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.A C.H. Campbell Elementary School first-grader warmed up to break a board held by Master Justin Taylor Jr. during a visit by Taylor to the school on Nov. 7.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Master Justin Taylor Jr., owner of Junior Tae Kwon Do School, showed a class of C.H. Campbell Elementary School students some Tae Kwon Do moves during gym class on Nov. 7.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Master Justin Taylor Jr., owner of Junior Tae Kwon Do School, talked to a class of fourth-graders about bullying prevention during a visit to the school on Nov. 7.
By ABBY SLANKER
C.H. Campbell Elementary School students learned some important life skills, along with learning Tae Kwon Do from Master Justin Taylor Jr., during gym class the week of Nov. 6. Master Taylor is the owner of the Junior Tae Kwon Do School in Boardman.
Taylor focused on the importance of confident body language, eye contact, stranger awareness and bullying prevention.
For the kindergarten through second-grade students, I talk about stranger awareness and for the third- and fourth-graders, I focus on bullying prevention,” Taylor said.
Taylor explained to a first-grade class that a stranger isn’t necessarily a bad guy.
“Just because someone is a stranger to you, that doesn’t mean he or she is a bad guy. It just means you don’t know them. There are good strangers, such as a police officer, a substitute teacher, a doctor, an ambulance driver and even a lifeguard. You can talk to these people if you are in trouble even if you don’t know them,” Taylor said.
Students who enjoy the gym classes may participate in an after school program later in the month at the Junior Tae Kwon Do School.
“Anyone who is interested can sign up for the after school program of martial arts classes at my school where they can then test for their yellow belt on the last day of class. They then receive their yellow belt certification. We also have the kids break boards on the last day and have a pizza party for the kids and their parents,” Taylor said.
Taylor travels to several schools in the area, including Hilltop Elementary and Canfield Village Middle School. He is also involved in over half the schools in Trumbull County.
“The cost of the after school program is $20 for four 45 minute classes. I donate 100 percent of that cost back to the school, in this case C.H. Campbell. Between this year and last year, I have donated $15,000 back to Canfield Local Schools. I really enjoy doing it,” Taylor said.