In the past decade, dating violence has become an important issue for schools nationwide. Another study showed that more than half of college rape victims were attacked by their dates. In rural Vermont, our high school of 1,000 students was not immune to such violence. Several members of the Student Review Team had noticed an increase in abusive student relationships. This team of counselors, administrators, and community representatives from mental and physical health facilities meets weekly to discuss at-risk students.
Effective approaches focus on teaching anger control, assertiveness, and responsible communication.
School provides an ideal setting for this type of education because a large number of young people can be reached at one time. Further, students perceive school as a more socially acceptable venue for counseling services than either mental health centers or shelters for battered women. Laying the Groundwork Deana's Fund in Waltham, Massachusetts, sponsors The Yellow Dress , and the play committee first contacted this group for information about bringing a performance to Brattleboro. At one crucial point, the football coach joined the committee. This linked athletic leaders to the program and connected it to the Athletic Boosters.