We hear so much about armed guards in schools, metal detectors, gun control, etc., to make our schools safe. While I’m not opposed to any of those, how about focusing on the kids, specifically the loner types prone to crave attention but have no acceptable outlet?
How about a mentoring system for all high schools? Every freshman has a sophomore responsible for them. Every sophomore has a junior to look up to. Every junior has a senior to go to. That would give everyone (except seniors) someone older to associate with and everyone (except freshmen) responsibility for someone else. Newcomers would be better assimilated with help to find their social group and perhaps encouragement to join school activities. No one would have to be alone at lunch. It would be easier to identify loners and those who just don’t “fit in” and need special attention. And, if all students are involved, no one would feel the stigma of that special attention.
Of course, there is the consideration of how to make the matches, but the possibility of positive outcomes should outweigh that problem.
Fifi Donahoe, Eden