Mar 18, 2009 8:17 pm US/Eastern
Harlem Students Learn About Relationship Abuse
Rihanna-Brown Saga Highlights Necessity For Abuse Education
Reporting
Cindy Hsu
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Singers Rihanna and Chris Brown perform on stage during Z100's Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 12, 2008, in New York City.
Scott Gries/Getty Images
The volatile relationship between Rihanna and Chris Brown has teenagers talking, and students across the country are learning what to do when dating turns violent.
Starting this week, students at Rice High School in Harlem are learning how to spot and stop dating abuse.
The curriculum is called "Love is Not Abuse." Teachers nationwide are trying to help students open their eyes to red flags that someone they know may be in trouble.
"If you've got a girl walking down with her head like that all the time who goes home and cries who skips school," health teacher Steven Grimaldi said.
When CBS 2HD's Cindy Hsu asked the students how many of them had witnessed abuse, everyone raised their hands, but many did not know how to help.
"Pull them to the side, right, because what if the abuser gets angry at you? He's going to hit the girl again, right?" Grimaldi said. "You're not there to save the day. You're there to get them to somebody who can help."
"We learned that the best thing you should do is to pull the victim to the side and talk to them, tell them where to get help, you know, just be there and be supportive for them," said 15-year-old student Mamadou Magassa.
The students say what happened with Rihanna and Chris Brown, has forced teenagers to talk about an epidemic that that's often swept under the carpet.
"It's kind of like a bad and a good thing that's happened because people are going to pay more attention, and say hey this really needs to stop," said 15-year-old student Jabari White.
"For us, to talk about this could benefit us and help us not to make the same mistakes as other guys out there doing with their girlfriends," said 16-year-old student Mark Kelly.
"Rihanna, Chris Brown, she broke up with him and went right back so she's in that cycle. She needs to break that cycle," Grimaldi said.
The curriculum is free and available to any school. Teachers can download it off the internet. Right now the program is being taught in 3,500 middle and high schools across the country.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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