This year, social studies teachers were instructed to introduce “Safe to Say Something,” a program organized to prevent gun-related deaths due to crime and suicide among the student body.

    The program’s intentions revolve around the “Sandy Hook Promise,” referring to the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in December of 2014. The promise declares taking safety precautions to protect children from gun violence for the purpose of creating safer homes, communities and schools.

  Through “Safe to Say Something,” students can anonymously submit potential threats 24-hours-a day, 7-days-a-week by telephone, through “Safe to Say Something’s” mobile app, or by using saysomething.net. Reports can also include multimedia attachments and links to additional information regarding the reported threat.

    The program is required to be introduced to schools by Pennsylvania law through Act 44, which created a School Safety and Security Committee statewide. This year, all secondary schools in Pennsylvania had to introduce ‘Safe to Say Something’ beginning in mid-January.

    Last year, Penn-Trafford began to make advances towards a safer community and school with “Safe School Helpline.” However, according to statistics, “Safe to Say Something” has brought in more reports in its first few weeks than the helpline had in the past.

    Social studies teacher John Carlisle said, “It is definitely vital to the safety of not only Penn-Trafford, but to schools nationwide. You never know when something could happen; it’s all very relevant to the world we live in right now.”

    Aquilio added that the program creates a safe space for students to contact when they witness any form of threat.

     “It is a great way to help students feel more comfortable reporting situations that they may not feel safe reporting directly to school administration. We’ve had four reports since introducing ‘Safe to Say Something’ to the student body just earlier this month,” Principal Tony Aquilio said.

    The system is completely confidential. Once received, reports and information are automatically filtered towards the school officials they apply to as well as local law enforcement agencies and mental health services. After the situation is handled to the best of its ability, local law enforcement or mental health service personnel are asked to submit outcome reports.

    Carlisle said, “‘Safe to Say Something’ is a lot more involved than past programs, in a good way. It’s backed by the FBI, unlike any other program I’ve been involved with in the past, and it is of course anonymous.”

    Social studies teacher Jason Davis added “The students were very interested and engaged in ‘Say Something.’ They want to have control over their environment. I have already had students use it to help their peers.”

    The main concern regarding the anonymous system of “Safe to Say Something” is the validity of reports presented. However, all broadcasted forms of “Safe to Say Something,” such as the app and website, continually remind users that all reports will respond with contact to local authorities. Technicians working for “Safe to Say Something” use their professional expertise to assess the validity of reports and determine whether further action is appropriate.

    Davis added, “I believe that this is a wonderful tool to better engage students. It gives them the independence and responsibility to monitor their social media, how they are treated in that platform, and quickly get help to those who need it.”

    Since the introduction of “Safe to Say Something” to secondary schools nationwide, over 2,500,000 supporters from all 50 states have pledged to the Sandy Hook Promise, along with over 5,100 promise leaders beginning to raise awareness and action behind “Safe to Say Something’s” programs and practices as stated on the program’s website.

    Aquilio said, “It’s okay to use the program. We’ve had a lot of students not know which direction to turn in regards to their mental health and this program has already done a lot to help.”

    “Safe to Say Something” will remain a safety priority to P-T as the administration plans to present the program to students every year, as well as introducing it to parents of the community.

 

Belle Mulhern

Staff Writer