Published: February 28, 2007 12:12 am      

Students learn to use leadership for change

FLATWOODS — Standing in a circle, the 30 Russell High School freshmen found out they shared more than they thought.

Prompted by a moderator, they stepped forward in unison to signify they’d been teased, bullied, hurt — or that they’d dispensed the same to others.

The exercise provided a graphic illustration of the common trials and tribulations of adolescence. It was part of a daylong program Tuesday for selected ninth-graders interested in changing the culture of their school for the better.

Led by representatives of the nonprofit youth advocacy group Kentucky Child Now!, the program aimed to create a safer and more caring school, said Jennifer Watson, a youth development trainer for the organization.

“This is giving kids the skills and the knowledge to positively change their school and the community,” Watson said.

Participants were students selected for their leadership potential, said Russell Youth Service Center coordinator Patty Lane, who made it a point to mix academicians, athletes and every other student type.

“We wanted to have a diverse group,” she said.

The circle activity and other touchy-feely exercises were balanced by brainstorming sessions in which the freshmen developed strategies for improving their school. Among their goals were:

Equal support for academics and athletics.

Ridding the school of drugs.

Establishing a “grace period” for freshmen.

Lane pledged to work toward implementing at least one of their strategies, “so it won’t be just a day out of school for you,” she said.

It was a day well-spent, said freshman Andy Lyon. Among other topics, they worked on dealing with cliques and other social issues, he said.

“It helped us all realize how many cliques there really are and that we can change that,” agreed Chelsea Conner, who recently moved from West Virginia.

Offering the training to freshmen is a good idea, Lyon said.

“We have three more years of high school. That gives us more time to apply what we’ve learned,” he said. “We can make school a better place to learn.”

And that’s part of the plan, to pass on what they learn to the rest of the student body, particularly the next crop of freshmen, Lane said.

She hopes to keep the group together, perhaps for periodic gatherings, to form a nucleus for an ongoing improvement effort.

“It could start improving today, if each of them just passes it on to one other,” Lane said.