My Boarding School Blog

Every parent’s worst fear involves the safety of their children. Almost every kid spends most of his day in school away from the protective care of their parents along with other kids of different backgrounds and upbringing. Although schools are deemed to be a safe environment for learning there is no guarantee that havoc will not occur especially if violence is initiated by a student, faculty or staff within school grounds.

School violence may take many forms which include assault, shooting, rape, robbery and gang fights. Schools can become targets for terrorism attacks because they are heavily populated with students of different levels. These threats are very alarming but they are not highly impossible to happen which is why school safety and crisis prevention should be taught and implemented in every school.

The American Association of School Administrators says that a detailed crisis plan should be prepared to be ready for use in cases of a crisis or emergency situation strikes. Teachers and school administrators should be trained to be alert and focused when emergency situation arises. Avoiding panic and leading the group into safety is the priority. Teachers should also be taught on how to observe for student’s untoward behavior that could signify a troubled mind which is high risk for bursts of anger and at times violence. The Columbine High School Massacre is an example of how troubled teens can get violent to the point of taking lives. Columbine High School did not expect that two young boys can take the lives of 13 innocent people in just a few hours. Truly an awakening on how school security and safety is taken for granted.

Ways to prevent school violence includes collaboration among faculty, school staff, administrators, student body and parents. Efforts should be made to monitor student behaviors, school security from outsiders and general inspection for suspicious substances and items brought in school grounds. Strict implementation of school policies and regulations should be adhered to and violations should be addressed with the proper disciplinary action. Funding of school safety programs and campaigns is very important to increase surveillance and security measures. The National Association of School Psychologists suggests that parents and teachers exercise open communication with students to foster reassurance of school safety and encourage reports of any incidence of bullying or violence among student groups. Observe changes in behavior that can indicate problems on self esteem and peer pressure. Teachers should brief students on crisis prevention and emergency procedures for them to be ready and equipped in times of the actual crisis. Promoting school safety is an alliance between students, teachers, school administrators and parents to make schools safe and foster an ideal learning environment.

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In a small town of Littleton Colorado, two high school boys Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris went on a frantic killing spree in Columbine High School. In less than an hour 15 people are dead and 23 more are injured.

The massacre at Columbine High School is a tragic event that poses numerous questions on the reason why two high school boys can intentionally shoot their schoolmates and teachers randomly. The little town in Denver became the spotlight for months after the killings with every parent shocked with disbelief that their children who goes to Columbine High has experienced a face to face encounter with death.

How did Dylan and Eric orchestrated the events that led to mass bloodshed on school grounds is highly interesting. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris were smart kids who played sports and liked computers. When they entered Columbine High they had difficulty fitting in as most new kids in a school. There weren’t any specific indicators observable in these kids that they would be capable of any violent acts. They were typical teenager boys, but we were mistaken.

Written in Klebold and Harris’ journals were troublesome ideas of suicide and murder as early as 1997-1998. Their journals reflected that they researched how to make improvised bombs on the Internet, acquired guns and knives and other explosive devices. They studied the place in which they would perform their act, scrutinizing every detail of how many students are in a certain place at a particular time.

And on that dreadful Tuesday of April 20, 1999, Klebold and Harris went to school to bring terror to unsuspecting students and faculties. Initially part of the plan was to bomb the cafeteria where most people are during that lunch hour but unexpectedly their plan didn’t work and no explosion was made in the cafeteria. Across the school, in the open fields the two boys had set out a ploy to distract police, they timed two pipe bombs to explode at around 11:19. At this time Klebold and Harris started shooting students just outside the cafeteria. They walked around the cafeteria shooting guns and throwing pipe bombs. There were delayed reactions from students and teachers about the seriousness of the situation because they thought it was a senior prank commonly staged by students before graduation. Soon as they realized the reality of the gun shooting they hide under the tables, and try their best to be out of the way of the two gun men.

From the cafeteria the two boys went past the hallways, in the library and back to the cafeteria. A detailed time line of the events that happened are illustrated here. When the SWAT team arrived and police are gaining control of the situation, Klebold and Harris were at the library ready to take their lives. Harris shot himself putting the barrel into his mouth which instantly killed him. Klebold fired a shot to his left temple.

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Parents are growing fearful of sending their children in school because of the gun shootings and violence reported in news that happens in school grounds. Parents are torn between wanting to keep their children safe and giving them the opportunity to study. Parents shouldn’t feel this way. Schools are children’s second home mainly because they spend most of their day in the four corners of the classroom, in hallways, locker rooms, gym and school grounds. It can be regarded as their second home.

Contrary to what is perceived by many people, violence in schools has steadily dropped in the last 10 years. According to the US Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) the annual rate of violent crimes in 2007 was less than half of the rate in 1994 (40 per 1,000). The graph below shows the declining trend of school violence from 1994 up to 2007.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), 2007. Cited in Figure 2.2 in Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2007; National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

School is an important part of an individual for this is where he develops skills, acquire knowledge and learn to make lasting relationship with friends, mentors and colleagues. Every year approximately 50 million students go to school both in elementary and high school. Imagine if one in eight students carries a gun in school; it would be enough to wage a war.

Everyone must act to make our schools safe. Teachers, students and parents should help each other to be vigilant in reporting crimes and violence happening unnoticed. According to NCES survey 84% of public school has a low security system in place and 3% with no security at all. This is characterized by insufficient school guards and metal weapon detectors. Security guards should wear their badge at all times and implement strict rules on preventing outsiders from entering the school premises. Schools should initiate violence preventions programs and policies. Information can be found from these organizations: Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, School Violence | School Bullying | School Safety, and National Crime Prevention Council.

Parents can help in preventing violence in schools by paying attention to changes in personality of their children. Many times children who are experiencing personal problems and those observed to have sudden change in moods and outlook are prone to becoming violent. Talk with your child if you see symptoms of depression, violence towards animals, sudden rage or sudden bouts of anger. Most of the time those children without an emotional outlet to turn to are the ones who succumb to violence.

Teachers are responsible in guiding students when they are in school and should equally be observant of brewing quarrels among peers and classmates. Teachers should watch out for bullying and gang fights in and out of the classroom, usually in school grounds like fields, gyms or hallways. Refer troublesome students for counseling and be prepared for crisis situation.

Students need to participate as well in trying to prevent school violence. Report untoward acts of bullying or peer pressure experienced or witnessed. Control your emotions and learn anger management. Know when to walk away in the presence of violent confrontations.

A safe school can be achieved if all would participate in its prevention. We need to strive hard to maintain a safe learning environment for the children.

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