Those scenarios were discussed Tuesday at Standley Lake High School, where Jefferson County's high school football coaches met with a noted expert in violence prevention. Consultant Jackson Katz was here at the behest of Jeffco school officials who are looking at ways to prevent another tragedy like the Columbine school shootings. Students have reported that Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were often picked on by their classmates, and school officials say they are convinced the shootings could have been prevented if those incidents had been reported. Some students also complained after the shootings that athletes formed a powerful clique at the school and often harassed other teens. Katz, founder and director of the Mentors in Violence Prevention program at Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society, said students must be taught to report harassment.
Athletes enjoy status in the school.
They're already leaders,'' he said. Katz spoke Tuesday to football coaches. Next up are coaches in the rest of the fall sports, then the same drill with the winter and spring coaches. The coaches will meet with players to discuss tolerance toward fellow students and to show a video on the subject. A separate video is being readied for all students.