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CLEAR Temp: 67 °F Wind: NW at 7 mph Sunday, June 2, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend June 2, 2002 Columbine spurred Rogue River students to action By SANNE SPECHT for the Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — Teachers, administrators, parents and emergency responders may have found the possibilities of a school shooting unsettling during a recent simulation at Rogue River High School, but student leaders already had faced their fears and taken action. Related story: Emergency atgencies learn from mock school shooting . With the help of leadership teacher Joann Loudermilk, the students created a schoolwide anti-violence tolerance program featuring role modeling, journal writing, situation exercises, analysis, goal setting, evaluation and re-evaluation. It all started shortly after the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colo. Loudermilk struggled to help her students make sense of the student-on-student violence. Students repeatedly asked her, "Why did this happen?" and, "Could it happen at our school?" Loudermilk encouraged her students to engage in open, candid dialog on the topic, particularly about the "why" of the student-on-student violence. When conversations turned to hazing, peer issues and self-respect, Loudermilk said she knew they were on the right track. But talking is one thing, creating change is another. Loudermilk said she wanted to offer her students a chance to feel empowered. "Students were scared and confused about what caused them (two Columbine students) to take the lives of so many students and then kill themselves," said Loudermilk. When an invitation to participate in the creation of a national tolerance program came from the Celebrating Diversity Organization in Washington, D.C., Loudermilk said she had the tool she needed. Accepting the invitation, she worked with her students to create a program that would educate and challenge preconceptions. Loudermilk said if students learn to respect themselves and each other, hopefully no students would ever feel so isolated and disconnected that they would resort to violence against their peers. The program helps "develop a school environment in which a positive learning atmosphere is promoted and all students feel safe," said Loudermilk. Loudermilk submitted the Rogue River program to the Celebrating Diversity Organization, where it was so well-received it became part of the national model. Approximately one month after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Loudermilk spent a week in New York teaching the new tolerance program at an inner-city school located near ground zero. Loudermilk’s students remain focused on creating a climate of tolerance at their school and say it is still their No. 1 priority. They have taken a pledge to stop and report incidents of hazing between students. They also work to make new students feel welcome and accepted. Loudermilk said she hopes they will continue to take a strong role in encouraging respect on all levels throughout their lives. "I see a difference at school in the halls and in the classrooms," said Loudermilk. "I hope they will carry this lesson with them. These kids are our future leaders." This year’s tolerance program, VOICES, demonstrates how students feel they must wear "masks" to hide their inner fears and insecurities. Using their own real-life experiences or fictionalized self-portrayals, the students give voice to issues such as peer pressure, sexual abuse, eating disorders and loneliness. They speak of increasing pressures to conform to the "perfection expectations" of teachers, administrators and their parents. At a recent student assembly, hidden in silhouette, Loudermilk’s students read their "VOICES" stories. One by one, a young voice asking for understanding and acceptance filled the auditorium while James Taylor’s version of Carole King’s "You’ve got a Friend" played in the background. Loudermilk feels high expectations result in excellent performance. "I expect these kids to do good work and I respect their ability to do it," she said. A repeat student in Loudermilk’s leadership classes, senior class representative Greg Jentzsch is also the vice president of student relations. Jentzsch was selected to participate in the shooting enactment by Loudermilk and Principal Dave Orr because of his strong leadership qualifications. Jentzsch said Loudermilk’s teaching has been inspirational and motivating. "She’s taught me a lot about getting along with different types of people and how to work as a team," said Jentzsch. "She’s taught me how to put my trust in other people because she’s put her trust in me." Loudermilk was recently nominated to become a Disney Teacher of the Year. Out of 20,000 applicants, Loudermilk was in the top 60 Disney Teachers. Sanne Specht is a free-lance writer living in Rogue River. Reach her at [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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