Helping the 'Invisible Kids': A Former Principal's Mission for Better Mental Health and Violence Prevention
This is our summary of a recent article written by St. Cloud Live. Please read the original article here (click here).
In 2003, a tragedy unfolded in the quiet community of Cold Spring, Minnesota. Jason McLaughlin, a freshman at ROCORI High School, took the lives of two fellow students. This event, which marked its 20th anniversary on September 24th, 2003, remains a poignant reminder of the urgent need to address the mental well-being of our youth.
Jerry Sparby, the principal of Cold Spring Elementary at the time, has since dedicated his life to understanding and preventing such incidents. His mission revolves around the "invisible kids" - those who might lash out due to external factors or internalize their pain, leading to depression, anxiety, or suicidal tendencies.
Jason McLaughlin, the shooter, was one such "invisible kid". His admission to Sparby about hiding on the playground to avoid the harsh reality of having no friends was a glaring testament to this.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Sparby began noticing these "invisible kids" everywhere — children bearing the weight of trauma, familial stress, societal expectations, and more. “Kids are suffering,” Sparby says, “and our current educational approach is ill-equipped to handle it.”
Reactive vs. Proactive Measures
Despite Sparby's efforts to emphasize community-building post-shooting, he believes the district's approach mirrors that of many others nationwide. Schools have prioritized physical security — locking doors and increasing surveillance. Yet, building a connected and emotionally healthy community often takes a back seat. The result? “Kids are more disconnected today than ever,” Sparby observes.
Furthermore, Sparby criticizes certain safety drills that, instead of fostering a sense of safety, have the potential to traumatize students further.
Stripping Away Creative Outlets
The pandemic brought with it numerous challenges, and schools, in their quest to make up for learning losses, have sometimes sidelined vital subjects that aid in the holistic development of children: physical education, art, and music. For Sparby, this move is counterintuitive. “All three of those curriculums — phys ed, art, and music — are among the biggest developers of our brain,” he asserts.
Finding Hope in Connection
Amidst these challenges, Sparby is hopeful. His nationwide interactions have shown him that students, including the "invisible kids", desire assistance. The key lies in fostering connections, building communities, and facilitating friendships.
He's pioneered several initiatives with these aims at heart:
The Yes Network: A social impact network in Central Minnesota, focusing on learning, youth development, and community meals combined with physical activity for kids.
Building a World of Love: A program where medical professionals employ a relationship-based model of care to tackle trauma, anxiety, and depression.
Horse-centered Healing: Organizations like Lead Up International and Horse Sense and Healing use equine therapy to help individuals heal and counteract violence.
HuddLUp: Sparby's latest initiative, which brings play, connection, and stress-reduction techniques directly into classrooms. This program is already gaining traction in Central Minnesota.
A Call to Action
Sparby warns of dire consequences if society doesn't act now. The scars of the ROCORI tragedy linger, even two decades later. ROCORI graduates, now parents themselves, still grapple with the trauma. If we don't address the root causes and proactively work towards building healthier, more connected communities, such pain will persist.
In the words of Jerry Sparby, the journey towards healing, understanding, and prevention is long, but it’s one we must undertake. The stakes are too high to ignore.