PATRIOT LEARNING CENTER TEENS SPEAK OUT AGAINST TEEN DATING VIOLENCE
by Tressie Knowlton
“Even though our school is small… what we’re doing is big,” Susie McPherson told a room full of Patriot Learning Center (PLC) students Monday morning. McPherson, casually known as “Ms. Mac” to PLC students, is a History teacher at the alternative school located in Falcon. PLC has only been around for two years, but the school is one of the state’s leaders in recognizing National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week.
TESSA and the students at PLC have a common goal: promoting safety and ending teen dating violence in our community. The students leading the awareness efforts understand that they are the future of our country, and that it is up to them to make it better for everyone.
Beginning in 2006, the first week of February marks a nationwide initiative to increase public awareness regarding the prevalence of Teen Dating Violence, a social problem proven to be a significant obstacle that many teens in our country face today. A 2007 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control found that 9.9% of high school age students report being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend. Emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse in teen relationships soars as high as one in every three teens, and 40% of teens report knowing someone in an abusive dating relationship.
“It’s as common as drugs,” commented one PLC student during a presentation and discussion on Teen Dating Violence with Julie Sage, one of TESSA’s teen dating violence experts. Sage talked to the students about the Teen Crisis Line TESSA offers that provides teens with 24/7 confidential access to counselors and dating violence experts. The presentation included several video testimonies from real teen victims and abusers, and an open discussion about the issues surrounding dating violence.
“You should be really proud of yourselves,” Sage told the students. “You are among the first groups in the state of Colorado to recognize Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week.” 
Patriot Learning Center already participates in a Safe Date program, where students learn about healthy relationships and decisions. So, when the Student Council heard about Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week, they decided to host a “Spirit Week” at PLC.
McPherson invited Julie Sage to kick off the week’s events by addressing the tough issues that surround teen dating violence. The group discussed how violence starts, how it progresses, what it feels like to the victim and the abuser, how to recognize abuse, and how to prevent dating violence. PLC students did not hold back from talking about the sometimes uncomfortable topic. In spite of the occasional bouts of nervous laughter, the teens faced the issue head-on.
“[Abuse] destroys you. [Victims] become a shell of their former self,” said PLC senior Justin White.
“You feel like you can change [abusers], but you really can’t at all,” added another student. “You feel inferior and trapped, and you start believing what they tell you.”
Each day during Spirit Week, the students are encouraged to dress up following a different theme, and the Student Council has scheduled several activities. Students created posters to line the hallways, and made ribbons for students and teachers to wear marking the importance of recognizing and preventing dating violence. “Then national color for Teen Dating Violence is purple, so we made purple ribbons we gave to many of the other high schools in the area,” told McPherson. “But, we wanted to be different and stand out at PLC, so our ribbons are lime green!” she laughed.
The students are handing out cards displaying catchy phrases like “If you’re getting smacked, your relationship is whack” and “Don’t stay silent if your Boo is violent”. At the end of the week, students can cash in the cards they’ve collected throughout the week for extra credit, candy bars, and other rewards. PLC is also hosting a Poetry Contest encouraging students to write about teen dating violence.
“This week is about letting the kids know they are not alone. We want to teach them what to do and how to do it,” said McPherson. “I’m just grateful for the wonderful support of our administration for giving the kids the chance to do this.”
Our kids come here with challenges and different family situations, so these kinds of programs are important,” told PLC Principal Jay Hahn. “It’s nice for our kids to get to be the community leaders in some things.”
The students know the dangers of dating violence all too well. “My sister has been in an abusive relationship, and it was really hard, because none of my family knew for a long time,” said Justin White.
“I think a lot of people think they can handle it on their own, but they really can’t,” claimed junior John Croft.
Kristal Lucas, a junior, commented on why there are so many teens involved in violent relationships. “Some people don’t tell anyone, because they don’t want people to know. And, I think other kids don’t report it that much, because they either don’t recognize it as abuse, or they don’t want to get involved in someone else’s business.”
PLC hopes to change some of those factors by creating a safe environment that encourages students to speak out against violence. The efforts seem to be working considering several students described PLC as a “family” atmosphere, and said Ms. Mac is like a mother-figure to them all.
“We’re like our own little community,” said Croft - a community working together for a brighter, safer future for everyone.
“Our generation controls the future of the U.S. Dating violence is a huge problem, and if we don’t stop it; it’s just going to get bigger.”
TESSA Teen Crisis Line – (719) 243-7818
For more information on Teen Dating Violence: please visit:
Colorado Anti-Violence Program www.coavp.org (888) 557-4441
Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence: www.ccadv.org (888) 778-7091
