‘Rachel’s Challenge’ Presentation
Impresses Residents
By J. Michael Whalen
Times Staff
10/13/11
“Rachel’s Challenge” turned out to be an eye-opening experience for those who attended the presentation Oct. 5 at Milton High School.

More than 100 parents, guardians and students visited the school’s Charles C. Winchester Auditorium to see the program.

The event, part of a national anti-bullying and antiviolence campaign designed to teach teens to act more compassionately, was also presented to Pierce Middle School and Milton High students, respectively, during school hours Oct. 4 and 5.

The program was founded by Darrell Scott, the father of 17-year-old Rachel Scott, one of 13 victims murdered by two student gunmen at Colorado’s Columbine High School in 1999. It includes a video describing what happened at Columbine and asks students to treat their peers, and everyone else, with love and compassion.

Matt Salnick, the presenter from the Rachel’s Challenge organization, presented five challenges to the audience: to look for the best in people; to dream big; to choose positive influences; to speak with kindness; and to start your own chain reaction.

Parents interviewed by the Times said they were impressed by what they saw.

“I thought it was really well done,” said Jeanne Kibble, whose son Matthew attends the high school and daughter Molly is a student at Pierce. “I feel like there was a lot of emotion. It was a positive experience.

“I’m of the opinion that the message ‘be kind to one another’ is something that kids can’t hear enough.”

Julie Marotta, whose youngest son Christopher is a student at Milton High, agreed.

“I thought it was terrific. I just thought it was very powerful,” said Marotta, a teacher at St. Mary of the Hills School. “I brought it to the fifth- and sixth-graders [at St. Mary’s] and they were so inspired. But they believe in the message, as well.”

Despite the descriptions of the Columbine killings contained in the presentation, Marotta said “Rachel’s Challenge” is suitable for the students who saw it.

“It’s not disturbing and it’s not too violent,” she said. “They see worse things on TV now.”

She added that after seeing the initial video presentation at Milton High, Christopher encouraged his parents to see it later in the evening.

“He gave me a big hug and told me that he appreciates everything we’ve done for him,” she said. “It was very interesting.”

The program generated buzz prior to arriving in Milton. Michael Chinman, a resident and former candidate for district attorney, wrote a letter to local media raising concerns about its cost to school districts, its effectiveness and – because Rachel Scott has been characterized by some as a Christian martyr – whether it is an appropriate message for public school students.

According to the school system, however, “Rachel’s Challenge” was entirely paid for by grants including $2,500 from the Milton Foundation for Education, $1,000 from the group Celebrate Milton, $2,000 from the Pierce Middle School PTO, $500 from Milton High School PTSFO, and another $500 from Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy in Boston, which sent its eighth-graders to the program.

Meanwhile, the parents said the program strongly got its point across without sending any kind of religious message.

“I didn’t feel there was any religion [involved],” said Kibble.

Marotta said the book “Rachel’s Tears” focuses on her Christian faith but is not mentioned in the presentation, which she called “a great teaching tool.”

“It’s very moving,” she added. (Visit www.rachelschallenge.org for more information.)