This all takes me back to 1999 when I was a classroom
teacher and the tragedy of Columbine. I
felt the same heartbreaking sadness and wonder about what we could do as a
society back then. I remember taking a
pen and paper and furiously writing down all the things I had been learning
that I thought teens needed so that something like this would never happen
again. I wasn't sure what to do with
those ideas other than to weave them into my regular lessons when
possible. But I knew it wasn't enough. So many kids felt disconnected for so many
reasons. But who’s going to listen to a classroom teacher?
A year later, one of
my former students hanged himself after being bullied. I had had enough. I had to take action. I ended up creating a program for my school
called Strategies for Success because of these 2 tragedies to help our kids not only survive but thrive. It worked more than I could have even
imagined, helping kids find their place in the world, helping them feel
connected and valued for who they were.
It’s still running all these years later…in my school and a few others
around the country. But it – or
something like it - needs to be in more schools.
I don’t know if it would have prevented this
horrific event but I do believe that it’s needed now more than ever. The program has won multiple awards both
locally and nationally because teens love it and are designing the kinds of
lives they want and that we want most for them.
While no one program or law can prevent every tragedy, maybe it’s time
those of us who have found workable solutions to help kids got a chance to
share what we know.
Haven’t we had
enough? I’m hoping this time someone
will listen to this high school teacher because we need to listen to everyone
who has a workable plan. I don't know who reads this blog but if you've had enough, I can help you get this program in a school. Email me at Marianne@MarianneDouglas.com
As Nelson Mandela said, “We owe our children – the
most vulnerable of citizens in our society – a life free of violence and fear.”
