Change Will Come One Step At A Time

Sat., Aug. 28, 1999

By Scott Sines scotts@spokesman.com

A new school year is about to begin, but things aren’t the way they used to be.

School districts are scrambling for money to fund programs they thought they would never need. Without additional resources, money usually spent on educational programs will be used to buy videocameras, metal detectors, ID badges and to pay police officers to patrol campuses. School administrators are trying hard to secure their schools and protect the quality of education at the same time. They deserve credit for their efforts.

Meanwhile, the big-hat-no-cattle politicians in Olympia have been long on concern and short on action. If our kids were salmon, they would stand a better chance of getting the money necessary for their survival. Gov. Gary Locke and the state Legislature practically ignored funding for school safety during the regular session. Then, during the special session (called to sort out transportation funding) the massacre at Columbine High School happened, so they quickly scraped together some bits and pieces of legislation to increase security and better handle violent kids. Every little bit helps.

But the best administrators in the world with a bottomless pit of money won’t solve the problem.

Our schools will not be safe until the students decide so. Until they make it socially unacceptable to tease and harass. Until they summon the guts to report weapons on campus. And our schools will not be safe until students determine to use peer pressure to reinforce values such as honesty, integrity and mutual respect.

Taken all together it seems impossible to change the sociology of high school and middle school. It won’t happen all at once. It will happen one student, one act at a time. One report of harassing behavior. One interaction that is reaching out instead of casting out. Eventually, change can happen.

Remember that it seemed impossible to teach the country to wear seat belts or to quit smoking. But eventually, progress was made in changing those behaviors.

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control reported that incidences of youth violence were decreasing overall. There are fewer fights today than there were five years ago and the number of teens who report carrying weapons to school is also decreasing.

The study confirmed what we all know - that the majority of young adults are good people. It’s time for those good people to step forward and make a difference.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.