Can We Stop School Violence? Essay -- Mass School Shootings Essays

Violence in American schools is escalating faster than a speeding bullet. Society demands that schools be safe for our children, yet recent events indicate we need to escalate our efforts to prevent violence in schools at the same time address violence in the larger community. Crises involving sudden violence in schools are traumatic in large measure because they are unexpected. The shrapnel from bullets fired on school grounds have a way of touching the life's of many. In the wake of such a crisis, members of the school community are asked-and ask themselves-what could have been done to prevent it. Coordinated school efforts can help. But the solution does not just rest in the schools. Together we must develop solutions that are community-wide and coordinated, that include schools, families, courts, law enforcement, community agencies, representatives of the faith community, business, and the broader community. Wilmer Cody, Kentucky Commissioner of Education (Dwyer et. al.) To make our schools safer, everyone can and must pitch in-- teachers, parents, students, policy makers, law enforcement officers, business managers, faith leaders, civic leaders, youth workers, and other concerned community residents. Everyone who cares about children cares about ending violence. It is time to break the silence that too often characterizes even the most well-meaning school communities. Research and expert-based information is available for school communities to use in developing and strengthening programs that can prevent crises. School safety is everyone's job. Each of us can do something to help solve the problem. It's a problem we all must work together to solve. The Department of Education and the Department of Justice warns... ... Ph.D., Parachini A., Hernandez F., Ph.D., Cody M., Ph.D., Davis D. "From Words to Weapons, the Violence Surrounding our Schools." American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. 22 April 2001 <http://www.aclu-sc.org/school.html> Dwyer, K., Osher, D., and Warger, C. (1998). "Early warning, timely response: A guide to safe schools." Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education. 22 April 2001 <http://www.cecp.air.org/guide/guidetext.htm> Kaufman P., Chen X., Choy S.P., Chandler K.A., Chapman C.D., Rand M.R., and Ringel C. NCES 99-251/NCJ-1 72215 "1999 Annual Report on School Safety." Washington, DC: 1998 U.S. Departments of Education and Justice. 21 April 2001 <http://www.ed.gov/offices/oese/sdfs/news.html> National Crime Prevention Council. Washington, DC "Stopping School Violence."Â   20 April 2001 http://www.ncpc.org/2schvio.htm