Documentary on Columbine victim challenges students

By Owen Boss

WINCHENDON — Students at Murdock Middle High School were challenged to consider ways to improve the environment they learn in Monday, as school administrators screened “Rachel’s Challenge,” a documentary based on Rachel J. Scott, the first victim of the Columbine shootings. The presentation was led by Andy McDonald, a former Columbine student and friend of Ms. Scott, who attended the school at the time of the shootings. “The overall program is based on the life of Rachel Scott,” said Mr. McDonald. “When she was killed, her family discovered an essay she had written entitled ‘My Ethics: My Codes of Life,’ and that is where the entire foundation for this program started.” Throughout the presentation excerpts from the essay, which was written only weeks before she was killed, challenged students to keep an open mind about the small things they can do to make their school a more welcoming place to learn. “Our goal is to cause significant culture changes at these schools,” said Mr. McDonald. “We start off by showing a series of video clips that really move the students.” Nicholas J. DeSimone, principal of the school said faculty chose to show the program for the second year in a row because it has such a noticeable effect on the students. “This is great because it isn’t a one-time showing,” said Mr. DeSimone. “We were able to show this to all of our students today and the show tonight will make it available to both parents and community members. It really sends shockwaves through the school.” The documentary painted the picture of a young woman determined to reach across social boundaries in an effort to spread kindness. “What we want kids to see is that she was willing to stand up for pretty much anybody,” said Mr. McDonald. “She reached out to different groups of people, specifically people who were disabled, and did what she could to help the kids who were picked on. These are issues that these kids run into every single day at school.” At the end of each program, Mr. McDonald left students with five goals: Look for the best in others, dare to dream, keep goals, write them down in a journal and eliminate prejudice. According to Mr. McDonald, the program has grown considerably since it began more than nine years ago, and is now being shown to students across the world. “In nine years we have been able to speak to more than 11 million people, it is an international program we have been heard in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and other countries across the globe,” said Mr. McDonald. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 3 on 9/30/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 231)