Patio Pondering: See Something, Say Something
This morning, mist is rising from the pond and dew covers the patio. You can feel fall in the air, even though the sun’s rays are warm and the sky promises another beautiful day here in Northeast Indiana. My coffee is extra strong to kick me into gear for the end of the week.
See Something, Say Something.
This phrase started as a public safety slogan encouraging people to report suspicious activity, but it’s found its way into other parts of life: bullying, harassment, and even workplace safety.
On Monday, while enduring the drop-off line at Leo Jr./Sr. High School, I watched three elementary-aged girls jump out of a car in the middle of the high school parking lot and walk toward the elementary school. While this technically is not allowed, it happens every day. What caught my attention was that the girls walked directly behind a cement truck pouring concrete for the football complex. My heart skipped a beat as they disappeared into the truck’s blind zone in the dark, pre-dawn light.
They made it safely to the sidewalk, but that image stuck with me.
Then on Wednesday morning, it happened again: a young boy hopped out of a vehicle in nearly the same spot and wandered behind another working cement truck, completely unaware of the danger just feet away. I snapped a quick photo to capture what I saw, partly to make sense of why this was still happening.
See Something, Say Something.
This time, I did.
I sent a message to the superintendent and school administrators describing what I’d seen, along with the photo showing the boy walking behind the truck. I hoped they would speak with the construction company and tighten safety around the area.
To my surprise, later that day the school sent out an automated message reminding parents that elementary students were not to be dropped off at the high school, and that all drop-offs needed to occur in designated zones.
I saw something. I said something. They did something.
How many times in our lives have we muttered, “Someone should say something,” and then done nothing more? The same silence that lets unsafe acts go unnoticed in a parking lot can also let poor decisions or toxic behavior grow unchecked in the workplace. What lessons do we teach our children, and our teams, when we choose comfort over courage, silence over safety?