Today is the 10th anniversary of the Columbine High School tragedy; listed are a few links I found with information about what has been learned 10 years later and changes that have been made. This article from the Colorado Springs Gazette reports what needs and has been done at some schools to make them safe, Getting teens to talk may be key to secure schools. The author is spot on as they talk about listening to the kids. Adults can be notorious for not listening or dismissing what kids have to say and then being blind sided with the results. The kids know better than the adults what is going on at a school and if the programs are working. Many of the programs for kids that are developed by the adults, the adults don’t want to hear what the kids are really thinking. But how do you get the kids to talk?
The bullying, aggression and tragedies that go on at schools continues much longer than it should due to kids not feeling safe reporting problems. An organization
Safe2Tell™, is a Colorado hotline that began taking calls in September 2004, reports that it has thwarted 28 planned school attacks and 128 teen suicides, and intervened in 229 threats to individuals.
About Safe2Tell™:
They provide young people a way to let someone know when any threatening behaviors or activities endanger themselves or someone they know – in a way that keeps them safe and anonymous.
Safe2Tell™ is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization based on the Colorado Prevention Initiative for School Safety with initial funding from The Colorado Trust. The program focuses on kids and the issues they face today. This program was based on the Columbine Commission Report’s recommendation that students need a safe and anonymous way to keep lines of communication open. They realized that tragedies could be prevented if young people had a way to tell someone what they knew without fearing retaliation. Now, using Safe2Tell™, they only have to make a call to make a difference. By calling 1-877-542-7233 or submitting a tip through this web-site, young people can help anyone who is in trouble or prevent a tragedy.
Results Safe2Tell calls have led to:
- 23 arrests
- 192 counseling referrals
- 136 school disciplinary actions
- 28 thwarted school attacks
- 130 prevented suicides
Have you noticed any changes in your community or new programs at your schools since this incident?
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WOW! I have never heard of that organization. What they are doing is great! I had to comment. What is so shocking to me, is how teens are so much more open and honest when they have no fear for retaliation like you wrote above. Where they know they won’t get yelled at or in trouble.