Help for Troubled Kids

* Recently I was talking with one of our group facilitators, a long-time adolescent drug counselor, and she told me that she had watched a TV talk show on which the host asked how something like the killings at Santee could happen.

Well, we know how. Kids who feel loved and valued do not come to school wanting to fight or shoot other students.

One of our vice principals referred a ninth-grade boy to an educational support group for his anger. The student shared with me that the other students have picked on him since elementary school. He has been in the group for five weeks and already the facilitator sees the student’s anger dissipating. This young man saw me on campus recently and said, “I love the group, Mrs. Kochel. I trust all the guys in it and they say ‘hi’ to me when they see me on campus.”

Kids at risk academically, socially or psychologically usually act out what has been done to them as children. We who work with these at-risk children can tell you this. I talked to a ninth-grader who told me she hates herself and doesn’t care whether she winds up living on the streets. In educational support groups these students have a place to share these desperate feelings of loneliness, loss, frustration and anger and be accepted.

Support groups are safe places to express their strongest feelings. Once they have been expressed in a safe environment, the healing begins. And the teaching of life skills such as healthy ways to express anger begins.

I believe there should be a full-time student assistance program at every school, especially the elementary schools. Let’s reach out a hand to these hurting youngsters. We will save lives.

PATRICIA KOCHEL

Student Assistance

Program Coordinator

Buena High School

Ventura