By Brian Anderson
San Ramon Valley Times

Sept. 25, 1999

DANVILLE — Talking to teen-agers about drugs, violence and other uncomfortable issues can sometimes be about as productive as chatting up a coffee table.

But a new program that San Ramon Valley school officials are considering would use laptop computers and the promise of anonymity to coax high school students into open discussions.

Similar to an Internet chat room or electronic bulletin board, the Teen Think Tank links 50 students throughout the district.

Students hammer out thoughts on subjects such as youth violence. In some cases, they are asked to respond to questions.

From the keyboards their words pop up on a giant screen for all who are gathered to see. But what's important in sessions like these are ideas and perspective -- not whom they came from, said district spokesman Terry Koehne.

"(Students) won't have the fear that someone might think, 'Hey, that was a stupid idea,'" Koehne said.

Community leaders acting in part as mentors will be immediate sounding boards during brainstorming sessions. Their presence, Koehne said, will let students know that comments and suggestions aired during the meeting will not be taken lightly.

Students rate the importance of their information, then it is stored in a database to be analyzed later.

An oversight committee could ultimately review the suggestions and determine what solutions can be put in place to deal with the issues raised.

"We try to pride ourselves on meeting with kids and get them to talk about what they face in the valley," Koehne said. "Without good solid input from young people, really the whole process is worthless."

The program is funded through a three-year, $30,000 grant from the state Department of Education.

School officials are still working out some of the details but hope to have the program up and running by the end of October.

Similar programs were held this year in Sacramento and last year in Alabama.

"We really want to give teens the opportunity to say their views on violence," said Brian Boer, a San Ramon businessman coordinating the program with the district. "This is all being done in an environment that really gives them a sense of security."

Boer said San Ramon and Danville schools are the beginning of a plan to link students from the Tri-Valley to a system for open, simultaneous discussions on teen issues of the day. Hopefully, he said, a unified, home-grown statement about subjects such as teen violence can be crafted.

Kelly McHugh, a senior at California High School, said there are many programs already dealing with violence and other teen issues. But students likely would take advantage of the program partly because if its anonymity.

"I think kids are afraid to put their names on the line," said McHugh, adding that sex, violence and drugs are topics students would discuss. "I think implementing another program -- something like (the Teen Think Tank) -- would make it all the better."