There are things that schools can control and things that they cannot regarding school violence.
Things Beyond the Control of Schools
- Schools not built or designed with safety in mind. In 1998, the average public school building in the United States was 42 years old. The mean age ranged from 46 years in the Northeast and Central states to 37 years in the Southeast. On average, schools located in the Northeast and Central regions of the country were older than those located in the Southeast and the West. Many of America’s schools may be at an age where frequent repairs are necessary.
- There are too many entrances. Many entrances permit someone to enter the building and go to upper floors without being seen. Putting metal detectors in the building requires a huge investment in obtaining and manning them.
- School have been underfunded for a long time. As the pandemic has shown, they lack “basic necessities” like air conditioning for hot climates. Many still have “temporary buildings” that are over 20 years old. I have been in “portable school buildings” which lack restrooms for Kindergarten students who are force to run to the permanent building to use the facilities.
- Classroom educator salaries are below those of comparison trained individuals in other fields resulting in shortages in science, math, special education and other field.
- Schools must accept everyone who applies.
- Overcome the community attitude “ It can’t happen here.” The names Hendersonville, NC, Newtown Conn., Oxnard, CA, Leland, NC, Weston, Fl, Littleton, CO, were unfamiliar to most Americans prior to the school shootings in schools there. School violence has taken place in rural, urban, suburban, affluent, minority, private schools.
Things Schools Can Control
- In many gun violence related incidents, schools have missed signs and signals along the way. Most incidents are not spur of the minute but have been planned for at least 6 months. At least 1 person know about it in advance.
- Schools should designate someone who has had training (possibly supplied by local or state police) to be able to look for and identify the signs of potential violence and possible perpetrators.
- The emphasis should be on prevention, not reaction.
- They should have a safety assessment in place. Schools and districts need to have a school-community emergency plan of action in place for students, staff and parents. It should be practiced and proactive.
- There needs to be a Threat Assessment Team in every school composed of multi-disciplinary educators, counselors, parents and law makers.
- Schools need to create a positive school culture which is open to students who wish to report a possible incident.
- Districts need to designate, in each school, a student-friendly person who, students trust, to serve as a “third-ear.”
- Schools need to proactively develop open lines of communication via social media, newsletters and emails with parents and they should be used regularly.
- Lawmakers must be accountable to the public for the lack of health and safety regulation of the firearms industry. Today, the gun industry is virtually free of any government oversight regarding the design, manufacture and distribution of firearms. This has resulted in the ready availability of assault weapons, which are ultra-concealable, high capacity, high caliber, and small enough to be concealed and fired by a six-year old.
School violence can be prevented. If we proactively recognize the signs, take positive steps, and involve all those who may be affected.