Young Minds Reminded of Being Safe

MACCLENNY, FL -- Baker County schools are revisiting their lesson plans when it comes to student safety following the death of 7-year-old Somer Thompson.

Thompson was last seen alive as she walked home from school in Orange Park Monday. Her body was discovered two days later in a south Georgia landfill.

The tragedy prompted Baker County School Superintendent Sherrie Raulerson to review what students are taught in the district's kindergarten center and two elementary schools.

"To teach them how to stay safe, that's our goal," said Raulerson, when asked about plans next week to hold assemblies for elementary students.

Baker County Sheriff Joey Dobson is involved in the safety program that will be handled by his deputies.

"We got this program from John Walsh and his group. I don't like the concept of stranger danger; in fact it sort of scares kids," said Dobson, referring to the child advocate and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Dobson said children need to know more about safety than to be scared of strangers.

Christina Bradford is a parent who supports the idea of making safety a lesson in elementary schools. She said the death of Somer, a first-grader, made her remind her first-grader, Cheyenne.

"She knows not to talk to nobody or get in a car with nobody," said Bradford.

The safety program will become part of the district's lesson plan in elementary schools and will support what teachers have already been stressing in the classroom.

"Sometimes we get complacent...we need to make sure we are taking every precaution to teach our children safety," said Raulerson.

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