SAFER SCHOOLS GOAL OF SUMMIT

Appearing before more than 7,000 students and educators, national experts
spoke Tuesday about respecting one another and resisting violent messages
in the entertainment media. The governor's fourth Safe Schools Summit at
the Cox Convention Center featured television zoologist Jack Hanna and
retired Army Lt. Col. Dave Grossman.

Representatives from more than 350 schools attended the daylong conference.

Gov. Frank Keating said the summit's goal is to ensure the safest learning
environment for Oklahoma schools.

"Americans have seen too many examples of school violence, the costs of
drug abuse and crime among young people, and tragedies that should have
been prevented," he said. "That is why we are here, and it is why we have
asked representatives from communities across the state to take part."

Grossman, who taught psychology and military science at West Point and is a
former Army Ranger, said television and movie violence has a profound
effect on young people. He cited a study by Stanford University at two
similar California elementary schools.

Stanford researchers introduced curriculum at one school meant to encourage
children to cut back on video games and watch less television. About 20
weeks later, the students who cut back on television showed a 40 percent
reduction in physical aggression and a 50 percent reduction in verbal
aggression compared with the students who followed their regular viewing
patterns.

Grossman, who directs the Killology Research Group, said students educated
about media violence will be more likely to resist the messages found on
television such as gun use and gang activity.

He recommends children watch only age-appropriate videos and encourages
parents to think critically about what their children should view.

"The most benign product you are going to get from the networks are
22-minute sitcoms or cartoons providing instant solutions for all of life's
problems," he said.

Other topics addressed at the summit included school safety and helping
students avoid drug, alcohol and tobacco use.

Hanna brought several exotic animals, including a clouded leopard, a python
and a cheetah, to help spread his message of respect, hard work and enthusiasm.

"Animal cruelty can be a precursor to other deviant behaviors, such as drug
and alcohol addiction," he said. "The Safe Schools Summit provides a great
platform for some of my principles concerning the interaction of animals,
children and youth."

Hanna said animals help encourage children to stay away from violence. He
recommends everyone have a pet in the home.

Co-sponsored by the governor's office and the state Education Department,
the Safe Schools Summit is the largest education conference in Oklahoma. It
is funded through the Safe and Drug-Free School Initiative, a discretionary
fund through the governor's office.