Sounding board -- LAURA BEKEART DIETZ

“Hurting people hurt people.”

In these few words is the essence of why most young people act as the

young man in Santee did earlier this month.

The rate of depression among youngsters is up significantly, according

to a study by pediatricians. In 1979, the rate was 1% versus a rate of

7.5% in 1996.

Listen to words from the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report (pages 126-27):

“To be healthy, children must form relationships not only with their

parents, but also with siblings and with peers.”

In my humble opinion, if the Newport-Mesa school board members’ desire

is to do what is best for the children’s safety, they will institute a

carefully conceived social skills program for our schools with behavioral

experts.

And, even more importantly, as the students themselves have indicated

by a clear majority, they want more counseling for social and personal

needs.

I appreciate how difficult it must be for school board members who

sincerely have the children’s best interests for safety and security as

their motive.

However, the response, drafted by some well-meaning parents created

the pressure to “do something,” even if that something will, I predict,

create many problems while the bullying students will continue to bully

because they are emotionally hurting.

At a recent school board meeting, I made several recommendations:

1. That we establish a partnership with UCI in addressing the causes.

2. That we provide a “hotline” for students to call in safety-related

concerns.

3. That we reevaluate the counseling system at our school, with male

counselors for male students and female counselors for female students

and promote “safe disclosure.”

4. That counseling be expanded to meet the needs of students during

and after school.

If we spent more time listening carefully to students and less time

trying to control them, answers to these difficult behavioral problems

will result.

* Laura Bekeart Dietz is a Corona del Mar resident.