East Garner Students Rally Against School Violence

October 17, 2006 - The recent rash of shootings in schools was the focus of a Peace Rally held by students of East Garner Middle School Monday.


Principal Cathy Williams welcomes students to Peace Rally.

SAVE Club members organized the rally against school violence.

Officer Caldwell encourages students to take responsibility for keeping their school safe.

East Garner principal Cathy Williams reminded her students that the news had been filled in recent weeks with stories of shootings in schools. Williams urged her students to have the same attitude toward violence as the Amish of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, where a gunman took 10 girls hostage at the West Nickel Mines Amish School on Oct. 2 and shot all of them, killing five and seriously wounding the others before committing suicide.

"The Amish people tore down that schoolhouse because they did not want to tolerate violence in their midst," said Williams. "We should not tolerate violence in our community."

SAVE Club students discuss school violence
The rally began with a line of 45 students standing in the center of the school gym. Every fourth student had a sash of police crime tape.

East Garner bookkeeper Diane Fish explained that one-fourth of the students would be touched by bullying, theft, assault or other types of school violence by the time they graduated from school. Fish has been an advisor for the school's Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Club for the past seven years. The SAVE Club organized the rally against school violence.

All East Garner students attended the rally and Fish gave them a brief history of SAVE which was founded by high school students in Charlotte after their friend Alex Orange was shot and killed. A number of East Garner students wore SAVE shirts with the organization's name in bright orange in memory of Alex Orange.

The Peace Rally involved the entire school, featuring routines and skits promoting nonviolence by the school's Cheerleading Squad, Dance Team, Drama Club and Step Team. The rally kicked off a series of events at the school for National Safe Schools Week.

During the rally, students warned of the threat of violence, providing a timeline of school shootings in the US and a report of recent incidents in North Carolina.

Students have important role in keeping school safe
East Garner School Resource Officer Paul Caldwell told the students they had an important role in keeping their school safe.

"You see what is going on. You hear the talk in the halls. You have the ability to bring that information to us. That's the right thing to do," said Caldwell. "There are 100 adults at our school that you can talk to. You have a responsibility to take action and tell someone. We are here to help you."

SAVE Club members speaking at the rally echoed Caldwell's advice. They noted FBI investigations of school shootings indicated in nearly every case the attacker had informed others of their plans before attacking. The students said that by sharing what they learn with adults they can help stop school violence.

At the rally teacher Amanda Perry, SAVE Club advisor, announced a series of events planned for the week that are designed to encourage nonviolence. Students will be encouraged to participate in themed dress-up days like "Turn Your Back on Violence," "Sock it to Violence," and "Team Up Against Violence." The SAVE Club also hopes to inspire every East Garner Middle student to sign a Peace Pledge, an anti-bullying proclamation that was read at Monday's Peace Rally.

East Garner Principal Cathy Williams says the rally and week's activities will provide an important message.

"As an International Baccalaureate candidate school, we continually talk about community responsibility and our school environment," said Williams. "It's important that our school community not only promotes and sustains a safe environment that encourages our students to be successful, but that we also strongly communicate our intolerance for violence."

Teacher Lisa Moody, SAVE Club advisor, launched the 1-866 Speak Up hotline campaign at the rally. East Garner is one of 10 schools in the nation selected to promote the toll-free anonymous hotline for reporting weapon-related threats at school. The hotline is the first of its kind and is sponsored by the PAX Real Solutions to Gun Violence, which is a non-profit organization in New York. Once the report of a weapon-related threat is made, the hotline relays that information to the school's principal and local law enforcement.

The East Garner Middle SAVE Club is part of the national SAVE Club organization. Students learn about alternatives to violence and practice what they learn through school and community service projects. As they participate in SAVE activities, students learn crime prevention and conflict management skills and the virtues of good citizenship, civility, and nonviolence. More information about SAVE is available at www.nationalsave.org. The East Garner Middle SAVE Club will continue to promote peace as it meets during the rest of the school year.

-wcpss-