NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - New Online Tip Line Available For Students

New Online Tip Line Available For Students

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - When students are in trouble or feeling down and out, who can they turn to?

Many parents and teachers would hope they would come to them.

If not, some Metro students now have a unique alternative.

It is called Talk About It. Students get to talk about problems or issues going on in and out of school.

Students run the online tip line and teach their peers about it.

Students at Margaret Allen Middle School demonstrated Wednesday the new safety program.

"I think it's pretty cool," said Marina Ishak, a sixth grader.

"It's something about us," said Coca Mitchell, an eighth grader. "We got a connection and they're really not going to listen to teachers because kids could connect better than teachers."

That is exactly why administrators think the program will work.

If students are having problems at school or home, they can log in anonymously and alert someone who can help.

"You can share your feelings and like if something's going bad or wrong you can just go to the Web site," Marina said.

Students without computer access can send text messages on their cell phones.

"We have a good group of students here but we do have problems and we see this as another step in helping to keep these kids safe," said Principal Ganet Johnson.

The program is being tested in three middle schools and three high schools.

School district administrators said if it's successful in those schools it will be spread to other schools.