Post-Columbine Programs Help Prevent Rampages

Even though experts agree there is no certain way to prevent another school shooting many schools are taking steps to prevent rampages. Jeff Daniels, a counseling psychologist at West Virginia University studies schools that have dealt with school shootings and observed what types of programs they now have in place to make sure it does not happen again. Some of the things you will see now is a lot of respect for students and for teachers. Before school it is not uncommon to see teachers and students visiting in the cafeteria. School officials have effectively communicated to students the difference between snitching and getting help in a crisis situation. Along with taking rumors seriously, anti-bulling programs, and staff training, these schools feel they are making their schools safer. Colorado has developed a Safe2Tell tip line that covers threats to safety. Some LA schools have developed Safe School Ambassadors programs to help student empower themselves to keep communication open with each other and watch for signs of threatening situations. Even though many educators are feeling they are making the step in the right direction some teachers say that it still only takes one kid. My comment to that is how many of those one kids did these actions stop? School shootings do not have to be something that we have to except and deal with. We need to do everything we can to make our schools safer and why anyone would not want to do that is beyond me. Not only are we teaching our children skills that they can use when they are in the school but also when they are older in the real world. These are life skills. In our school district we stress life skills in elementary school of flexibility, cooperation, and trustworthiness. These skills don’t have to stop when you get to junior high. They just change and become more of things that kids should be educated about. It is better to talk about things upfront then be caught in a situation.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-04-13-columbine-effects-schools_N.htm