The Colorado shootings last month cast a long shadow over communities around the country. Parents here held a forum in town hall last week to shed light on the problem of youth violence and learn how to keep schools safe. About 45 parents attended the two-hour discussion with representatives from school, police, and fire departments as well as a local church. Milford is not immune to the culture of violence, said several parents, and children as young as first graders are showing aggressive behavior toward one another.
Solutions range from talking to suspension and expulsion.
Horrific as school shootings are, he said, only 1 percent of youth violence takes place in the schools. He praised the organizers of the forum for including a broader section of the community. Concentrating only on schools, said the principal, would lead to a false sense of security. School social worker Desiree White reminded parents that Japan has little school violence because Japanese culture is based on respect. Our whole program in Milford is based on development of mutual respect.