A resolution to empathize with those in pain

The end of any year reflexively inspires measurements of progress and setbacks. As we turn the corner to 2020, it’s encouraging to record some of the former regarding safety in our schools. Rhetoric over gun laws reliably ignites such divisive passions that we’ll take the latest news as the equivalent of a classroom timeout that could lead to healing.

President Donald Trump recently signed the STOP School Violence Act, which opens doors to groups such as Sandy Hook Promise to educate students with its “Know the Signs” programs.

The concept acknowledges a challenge that long predates the tragedy of Dec. 14, 2012. There have been students in every generation who need more attention, but don’t always get it. The programs developed by nonprofits such as Sandy Hook Promise are designed to transform fingerpointing and torment into empathy and support.

It’s a cousin to the “See Something, Say Something” campaign that arose in the wake of 9/11. “Know the Signs” guides students and educators to recognize signals of distress.

This is delicate territory, as it’s not always easy for adults to respond appropriately to colleagues, peers, family members or strangers who are suffering. With the wrong directives, children hold the potential to cause more harm.

It’s also more challenging terrain than it was when bullying was limited to playgrounds and cafeterias. The virtual world inhabited by children is closed to too many parents and educators. Sandy Hook Promise rightly beats the drum about the perils of social media among youth.

The STOP School Violence Act will reward grants to enable schools to develop educational programs as well as an anonymous reporting system. Sandy Hook Promise has a nationwide alert system that enables students to report a peer at risk.

The kindness and logic of this response to the deaths of 20 students and six adults in the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting underscores the frustration that it has taken seven years to gain this level of support. As a nation, we should move faster to help children.

The president’s support is not insignificant. Back in February, Trump delivered his State of the Union address with no mention of gun violence, despite mass shootings rising as an American epidemic. After 94 incidents on school grounds were documented in 2018, an additional nine have been recorded this year.

Sandy Hook Promise isn’t just the name of the Newtown agency, but an actual pledge: “I promise to do all I can to protect children from gun violence by encouraging and supporting solutions that create safer, healthier homes, schools and communities.”

Mark Barden, a cofounder of Sandy Hook Promise whose son, Daniel, was among the victims in 2012, calls this effort what it truly is, “early intervention to stop future tragedies.”

He also shows a remarkable degree of empathy in asking for all of us to “see someone hurting” and respond with help.

That’s a worthy New Year’s resolution for anyone.

This is delicate territory, as it’s not always easy for adults to respond appropriately to colleagues, peers, family members or strangers who are suffering.