Rachel's Challenge
Part of a series of articles on the |
Columbine High School massacre |
---|
Location: Perpetrators: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold |
Rachel's Challenge is an organization in the United States that works to reduce violence. It is a non-religious,
Rachel Scott was the first student to be killed in the Columbine High School shooting in 1999.[3] Darrell Scott, Rachel's father, established Rachel's Challenge to perpetuate his daughter's example and the two-page "Code of Ethics" she wrote a month before her death at the hands of the perpetrators of the Columbine High School shooting, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.[6] This code of ethics had included the words: "Compassion is the greatest form of love humans have to offer",[7] and Darrell Scott has stated his belief in this message forms the basis for what he both speaks at public appearances, and has written as an author.
The Rachel’s Challenge presentations are given in schools and communities by members of her family and other speakers, using video footage of the Columbine High School massacre and its aftermath, combined with Rachel Scott’s drawings and writings, in a campaign to quell school violence, bullying, and teen suicide. As of 2009, Rachel's Challenge has developed a team of 30 speakers addressing young people in schools and colleges worldwide about Rachel's example.[6] The Rachel's Challenge program includes establishing Friends of Rachel clubs in schools, following the initial presentation, to sustain the campaign's goals on a long-term basis.[8] Schools around the country have incorporated Rachel's challenge into their own clubs bringing the message to their students.
Darrell Scott
Darrell Scott has co-authored three books about his daughter's life and her impact, urging students to practice compassion and kindness.
Craig Scott
Rachel Scott’s younger brother Craig, a 16-year-old Columbine High School
Craig continues to make frequent speaking appearances on behalf of Rachel's Challenge, urging teens to strive for a classroom "atmosphere of kindness and compassion" to stem school violence.
Work
At the
In the aftermath of the April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech shooting, Darrell and Craig Scott were interviewed on various television programs, such as Showbiz Tonight, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Fox & Friends, and Geraldo at Large, to share their thoughts about school violence and to remember Rachel Scott near the eighth anniversary of the Columbine tragedy. Craig Scott urged viewers on The Oprah Winfrey Show two days later to refrain from too much focus on the shooter, saying "I have found students that actually idolize the two shooters at Columbine... We've focused on my sister, who's so compassionate and kind. And from that, that's the opposite of that anger and hatred."[12]
On April 20, 2009, the tenth anniversary of the Columbine shootings, Darrell Scott told NBC interviewer
References
- ^ Grey, Jamie (August 5, 2014). "Rachel's Challenge to offer small school programs". KTVB.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ Gwynne, S. C. (December 20, 1999). "An Act of God?". Time. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2005.
- ^ a b "Preserving A Daughter's Spirit". CBS News. April 20, 2000. Archived from the original on February 27, 2004. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
- ^ Rachel's Tears, p. 181.
- ^ Reilly, Rick (February–March 2000). "The Big Hero of Littleton". Rachel's Journal. I (3): 17, 24.
- ^ Today show. NBC. April 20, 2009. Archived from the original(video) on April 24, 2009. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
- ^ "Rachel's Story: Darrell Scott brings his daughter's memory to the Shoals". Times Daily. September 15, 2001. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
- ^ "Friends of Rachel program, 2008". Archived from the original on 2009-04-06. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ Bennett, Jessica. "Celebrate Their Lives", Newsweek, October 4, 2006.
- ^ O'Driscoll, Patrick; Kenworthy, Tom (19 April 2000). "A 'rough year' for victim's brother". USA Today.
- ^ Rachel's Tears, p. 136.
- ^ a b "A Columbine Survivor Urges the Virginia Tech Community to Stay Positive", The Oprah Winfrey Show, April 18, 2007.
- ^ Scott, Darrell (9 March 2009). "VCY Rally". WVCY-TV. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
- ^ News release, Conference on School Safety, White House, October 10, 2006.
- ^ "Columbine changed me". Today. NBC. April 20, 2009. Archived from the original (video) on April 24, 2009. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
- ^ The American Screenwriters Association. 2008. Retrieved April 22, 2009.