PREVENTING FUTURE COLUMBINES

United Church of Christ: On 1999-JUL-6, at its 22^nd General Synod, the UCC passed a resolution with a near unanimous vote, calling on its "members, churches and agencies to study the causes of violence in our schools and propose programs and activities to address those causes." The resolution noted that much violence begins when schools and school groups "stereotype, judge, marginalize and exclude other people." The resolution asked UCC groups to press for laws and policies which eliminated weapons on school campuses and reduced access to firearms by youths. The resolution was the brainchild of 17 year old Erin Stephens, from Murphys CA. She noted that hers is the only state where guns cause more youth deaths than automobiles; where gun dealers outnumber McDonald's franchises by 18 times; and that "there are more restrictions on teddy bears ... then there are on guns." ₃  

Colorado initiative:  As the 1999-2000 school year began, many of Colorado's high school students will be wearing a tiny black and white patch on their clothing which contains the word "Respect." They are intended to remind students of the importance of respecting others as individuals, and to counter the alienating influence of school cliques.

National Education Association (NEA): Many school districts "are taking aim at cliques of the sort that have been blamed for violent outbursts. Schools are aggressively counseling students on tolerance and encouraging them to reach out to classmates they view as outside the mainstream." The NEA  prepared a no-taunting pledge with which students agree to govern their behavior. It says, in part, "I will do my part to make my community a safe place by being more sensitive to others," and "I will eliminate taunting from my behavior." ₄

Security measures: Many schools are installing metal detectors, hand-held wands, and other security devices to sense guns being smuggled into school. Some schools are permitting only those backpacks which are made of a see-through mesh that will reveal weapons. Some schools are employing police or security guards. There is a downside to these precautions. Ann Beeson, a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union commented: "We have to ask ourselves if we want students to have to go to school in an environment that's much more like a prison or a fortress than an educational environment." ₄

Posting national motto: The Colorado Board of Education passed a resolution encouraging all schools in the state to post the national motto "In God We Trust." The Jefferson County (CO) School Board, which controls Columbine High school, decided to post the motto. Saul Rosenthal, Anti-Defamation League regional director, referring to the religious diversity in the country, commented: "In a time where there are already many lines dividing our children in schools, one more reason to point to differences cannot help." ₅  More details.