By WILL PERKINS
Glasgow News 1
Caverna High School freshmen experienced hypothetical consequences to scenarios that they were randomly assigned during a Truth and Consequence activity Tuesday morning in the school’s gym.
Community members visited the school and acted as “parents” who helped guide the students through the real-world repercussions of their hypothetical actions.
After learning about their poor decisions or “crimes,” students were guided around to various booths — such as Judge, Hospital, Counseling and Treatment Program, Jailer, Early Intervention and Drug Testing — that represented steps they would then need to take.
“This event is designed to teach students about real-life scenarios,” said Terry Smith, director of Caverna’s family resource and youth services center. “So they draw a scenario and they go to the real-life consequences based on those actions — and they’ll visit with real-life people who work those scenarios.”
Caverna High School students participate in a Truth and Consequence activity on Tuesday, Dec. 9, in the Caverna High School gym. Will Perkins/Glasgow News 1
Shelby Gentry, a Caverna ninth-grader, said this was an eye-opening experience.
“It’s good knowing that it didn’t really happen,” Gentry said of her assigned poor decision. “I can see what would happen to me if I did that.
“It’s very good to know that I can see it in a different perspective than me actually doing it.”
Caverna High School Principal Frank Beauchamp said one of their biggest jobs is to prepare students for life after graduation, and this activity is a great opportunity for the freshmen to role play some of those scenarios that could happen.
“We want to try to prepare them and help them make those choices,” Beauchamp said. “As they go through high school, they can look back on this experience and hopefully they’ve learned something from it.”
Gina Lyon, a Caverna Independent school board member who participated in the activity, said it is “very important that we help the students understand what can happen if they are doing things that are against school policies,” adding that hopefully this experience will help deter them from making poor decisions.
One of the event’s organizers has experience with teaching and law enforcement. Sonya Carter, a UK Extension Agent in Hart County, said she was an educator and her son is a deputy sheriff.
“All of these scenarios come up with situations that kids may encounter some time in their life,” Carter said. “So these kids have a feel of: ‘Oh my gosh, I should never do this.’”
Carter said she is a total believer in this program because she has seen some of these scenarios play out in real life.
“I saw kids go through things like this, and they had consequences,” she said. “So if this saves just one kid — just one kid — then we’ve saved a life.”
Caverna High School students participate in a Truth and Consequence activity on Tuesday, Dec. 9, in the Caverna High School gym. Will Perkins/Glasgow News 1
Caverna’s Family Resource & Youth Services Center and 4-H presented this event with the help of community leaders and volunteers.
Paula Tarry, UK Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development in Barren County, said they couldn’t have asked for better community support.
“They would rather help with prevention than to see what happens afterwards,” Tarry said. “So this is a good opportunity for them to also put a face on some of the kids and know what’s going on in our schools.
“Not all our community members get a chance to see how good our students are and how well-behaved they are.”
Caverna High School students participate in a Truth and Consequence activity on Tuesday, Dec. 9, in the Caverna High School gym. Will Perkins/Glasgow News 1
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