School Violence: Lessons Learned

FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin,The, Sept, 1999 by Stephen R. Band, Joseph A. Harpold

* a history of violence:

* a close family member who has committed a violent act;

* a history of alcohol or drug abuse;

* a precipitating event, such as a failed romance or the perception of a failed romance, which was the case in several of the school shootings;

* the availability of a weapon or the means to commit violence;

* a recent attempt to commit suicide or an act of violence, as was the case in several of the school shootings;

* a lack of coping skills or strategies to handle personal life crises with no controls to prevent anger or positive ways to release it; and

* no apparent emotional support system.

When teachers, school counselors, or parents see a problem, they should notify school security personnel and the police. Police should meet with parents and teachers to encourage them to seek counseling for youths who exhibit symptoms indicating a need for intervention. However, because many incidents and changes in life can cause changes in student behavior, it becomes difficult to know what is normal student behavior and what constitutes grounds for concern and possible intervention.

One method for discovering potentially violent students involves having students write about their lives as a window into their thoughts. This would have helped in some of the school shootings if the teachers had had the essays and then been able to interpret their content and style. For example, one of the shooters' work was influenced heavily by the 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who is best known for having proclaimed the death of God and for calling himself an "immoralist," one who opposes all morality.(4) Another suspect's writing was inspired by the musician Marilyn Manson who reportedly based his song "Antichrist Superstar" on Nietzsche's book The Antichrist, a critique of Pauline Christianity.(5) While these influences and writing styles may not uncover a potential school shooter, they do represent signs that educators and parents should take seriously and explore further.

Maintain Communication

No easy solutions exist for curbing violent behavior. No one group can accept the blame for the increasingly violent actions of students. For example, research has shown that violence depicted in the media has a small impact on a large number of children and a large impact on a small number of children.(6) Therefore, as a way of identifying the small number of children greatly impacted by violence in the media, uniformed officers should visit schools as often as possible to establish rapport with students, teachers, and staff. Liaison, trust, training, and intelligence must exist for prevention programs to succeed.

Moreover, communities must send positive messages to all of their children that they are valuable and important to the community. Parents and other concerned adults must find ways to sincerely praise children, positively recognize their contributions to the community, and actively show children that they are loved and respected. At the same time, communities should encourage zero tolerance for violence whether committed by children or adults.