By Simone Midgett, Editor-In-Chief
In 2019, there were 45 school shootings. That is an average of nearly one school shooting a week. And just this year, our own high school has received two of its own violent threats.
According to hhs.gov, in 2017, 31 percent of high schoolers felt sad or hopeless repetitively for two or more weeks in a row. 17 percent of high school students, people who could be your peers, had suicidal thoughts.
The Say Something App is an anonymous reporting system that middle and high schools across the country, and now in North Carolina, are implementing into their systems with hopes to maintain safer schools and communities.
“I think that it is a great idea, there are a number of things, as I explored it because they introduced it to the teachers before they introduced it to the students, that just impressed me favorably,” Susan Sawin said.
The Say Something App was started by the national nonprofit, Sandy Hook Promise (SHP). A central focus of SHP is preventing gun violence before it happens. The app allows students to submit an anonymous tip via hotline, the app itself or through their website.
Not only does the app hope to prevent gun violence, but violence in general. Its goal is to prevent something tragic from happening before it occurs.
“I watched the video and the tone of the video impressed me even though, of course, one of the things we would want to get information about is the potential for violence, but the video focused so much on the potential for students to hurt themselves, students who are in trouble,” Sawin said.
The fact that what you report is anonymous gives students a sense of comfort knowing that they can do the right thing when they are concerned about a peer but it is often discouraging to say something face-to-face.
“You aren’t going to go up to someone and ask ‘Are you doing okay?’, you might but it would take a very brave person and in our culture, we don’t impose ourselves even when we are concerned because it is seen as impolite,” Sawin said. “This is a great leveler if you have worries about someone you can actually strengthen the community by voicing those worries and actually feel like you are doing something to help in general and specifically.”
While some people think that this app will have a huge impact on our school, others believe it is something implemented, however not used very often.
“I don’t think it’s really going to be used, I think it will just be there but I don’t think it will be a big thing,” junior Illiana Jauregui said.
Senior Joseph Lewis added: “I think that it will be in the back of administration’s brain for use but as far as the student body goes unless there is a dire situation where people really feel like they need to use the app it will be downloaded for a month and then deleted.”
Whether or not the app is used often, the idea is for it to be there to help prevent violent acts from happening if needed.
“I hope that the need for it doesn’t arise very often but if we keep reminding each other that it’s there then it can do some good and even if it just helps one person then it’s worth it,” Sawin said.
Senior Simone Midgett can be reached at [email protected].
