Everywhere in the news these days there is talk about school shootings. Students are walking out of school to protest. Others are joining marches and waving signs. While all of these bring notice to the topic, it’s not enough. Most of them want to get rid of guns. Unfortunately, that won’t solve the problem, it is much deeper than that.
In the book “Heart Led Leader” the author, Tommy Spaulding, shares the story of the principal of Columbine, Frank DeAngelis, and how he responded to the shootings. One can only imagine the grief and guilt he felt after those shootings. How he chose to respond can really teach us something about how we can respond to what is going on today. He understood the culture needed to change in his school.
CULTURE
So, what is “culture”? Merriam-Webster defines it as: “the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization.” If culture needs to be changed in schools, how do we change it?
Frank DeAngelis understood that the shooters at his school felt like outsiders. They were not included in the “values, goals, and practices” of their school culture. So what is currently valued in school culture?
Good grades may be valued (at least by the school) but some of the smartest kids may not feel like they are accepted and included. The “jocks” and cheerleaders always seem to be the most valued people in my school. The kids in student government were probably next.
The goals of schools are to educate its students. But how are they doing this? And what are they teaching? Yes, kids need a basic level of knowledge in different areas, but over and above this, what is most important? What contributes most to their success?
INCLUSION
A rat in a cage by itself, given the option between a bottle laced with heroin and a bottle of water, will kill itself with the heroin. If instead, a rat is put in a cage with other rats, with things to do, it will rarely touch the stuff. It doesn’t get addicted. So how does this apply to culture and school shootings? It points to the importance of a culture of inclusion.
Frank DeAngelis figured this out. In the aftermath of the shootings, he implemented activities to include more students. Most schools have assemblies to honor athletes or high academics. He started having assemblies that showcased the kids that rode skateboards, were in drama, and rapped and more.
Another thing he did to help his students understand how important each of them was to their school was give each of them a carabiner. He explained to them how each of them contributed something special to the community that was their school, helping to make it a better place. He had them all link them together and the chain was displayed in the main hallway in the school. He started a tradition of handing a carabiner to each of his graduates to remind them of their part in the community. And then at the start of the year, each incoming freshman received one to put on the chain to help them understand they were important and part of a bigger whole. They were included. They were loved. As Frank DeAngelis says, “… it starts with love. Because people don’t give a damn how much you know until they know how much your care.”
SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING
My brother, oldest son, and I were talking about this and they were trying to figure out a system to fix this. My son had a good idea about setting up a committee for each school or district to reach out and try and help the kids that have fallen through the cracks. I kept balking at that idea though. My brother kept pushing me and wanted to know what I thought should be done. When I told him the culture needed to change he argued that that was a long-term change and we needed something now.
He is right. We do need something now. But we also need to change the culture in schools today. I think Frank DeAngelis said it best:
“Ultimately, it’s not about having a system. You want to build a culture where people run through walls for each other, not set up a system. It’s not about having tougher policies at school. It’s really about making an environment that kids want to be in. When they want to be in class, when they want to learn, then the other problems start to go away. Our students aren’t here just to learn math, science, and English. They’re learning about life. They’re learning about leadership. And love is at the core of leadership.”