On April 8, high school students from across West Virginia gathered for the "Robert C. Byrd Youth Summit 2000," an
event designed to give young people a voice in the effort to craft common-sense ways to help end youth violence. This summit provided an opportunity to hear directly from students about an issue that directly
affects them, and to gain a better understanding of their views and concerns. The Youth Summit was held at West Virginia University, and, through interactive televised links, at seven other sites
across the state. The need for this type of event, and for a renewed effort to break the cycle of violence that has permeated our nation's schools, was made frighteningly evident recently when a six-year-old boy
took a loaded gun to his school near Flint, Michigan, and shot and killed one of his classmates.
As this tragedy points out, in the time since the tragedy at Columbine High School, school violence has not
stopped. The tragic scene of students and teachers pouring out of a school in fear has repeated itself time and time again.
For some reason that we cannot seem to get our arms around, children
continue to injure and to kill one another.
That is why the Youth Summit was so important. It was a chance to hear directly from students and to learn their thoughts on what is contributing to
violent acts among their peers. It was an opportunity to listen and to learn about how such issues as drugs, alcohol, and violence in the media affect their lives. Student participation is a necessary
component in any effort to curb school violence.
Putting an end to school violence requires broad participation from all sectors. No one can be given a pass. The nation needs to finally commit
itself to taking the difficult steps that are needed to break this cycle of violence, and to rebuild that serene school environment that every student and teacher deserves.
