Taking Care of One Another

A 5th grade teacher at Columbine Elementary School in Colorado found her class of 20 students undermining one another's sense of social safety and belonging through bullying, cliques, and ostracizing less socially skilled students. As Robin Collins considered how she could help her group become a more cohesive, supportive community, she took to heart one of the six actions for personal and social responsibility that Columbine promotes: "support and interact positively with others." At weekly class meetings, she set out to help students learn to act socially responsible toward their peers. At the core of the class's transition was a pledge Collins had each student make—and frequently renew—to each other student: "I will take care of you." [author]