By Alan Sorensen
At the conclusion of Tuesdays teleconference, Kids, Guns, Violence , Superintendent Kirk Miller told the audience that Havre Public Schools already has many of the programs discussed by the panel in place.
Weve been very proactive, taking care of a lot of the issues you saw there, Miller said. The school is not sitting around. Were trying to make sure were working with that high-risk youth.
The districts behavior management program enters its second year next fall and the district is part of the Hill County Action Team that began organizing a couple of weeks ago. That team, comprised of school, police, sheriff, juvenile court, fire department and other agency personnel, is being designed to keep the lines of communication open among the various agencies while addressing childrens needs.
One parent said the Taste of Jazz presentation last Monday was a good example of how kids and adults can have fun together in a positive setting. Another mentioned the success of the Family Game Night at Lincoln-McKinley School last Thursday.
Aileen Couch said her churchs youth group pulled in an at-risk kid and worked hard teaching him social skills.
Della Benboe asked how she was supposed to teach her child not to be judgmental while trying to steer the child away from other children whose behavior she considered dangerous.
Pastor Dorthy Nielson of First Lutheran Church in Havre suggested that while children should be discouraged from being judgmental, they should be taught to be discerning.
There is evil out there, Pastor James Johnson of Chinook said. Not to scare our kids, but to let them know that there is evil out there.
A mother in the group urged the schools and community to have a zero tolerance for violence as they do for alcohol and drug use.
Havre has already has a number of programs in place that were mentioned during the 1-hour teleconference.
Lincoln-McKinley already has a respect component in its curriculum. The bowling alley has been hosting a teen night every Friday. Junior HELPers/Youth Promise are sponsoring monthly teen nights and are considering putting on swimming parties this summer.
Havre has Boys and Girls Scout programs, church youth groups, numerous youth sports programs, summer camps and other youth programs, and boys and girls youth mentoring that people can tap into.
People interested in the mentoring programs can learn more about mentoring or apply as volunteers by calling the HELP office at 265-6206.
The issues are not being ignored, Miller said as the meeting wound down. If there was a pat answer to this, we wouldnt be watching videos.
Miller urged anyone who wants printed materials from the teleconference to call his office at 265-4356.
