Unveiling the Unthinkable: School Violence Scenarios 

What is School Violence?

School violence refers to acts of violence that take place within educational settings, disrupting the learning environment and adversely impacting students, schools, and the community (CDC, 2021). These acts of violence include bullying and cyberbullying, weapon use, fighting, vandalism, sexual assault, and many others. These issues also don’t only take place on school property. It can occur at a school event, to and from school, online, or on a school bus. Bringing attention to school violence is crucial for both students and teachers to protect the safety and well-being of everyone in the school community, prevention, and support within schools. By bringing attention to this issue, it will create a school environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected.

A majority of American teens and parents are starting to share more concerns about potential school shootings. Graf (2018) stated that 57% of students express concerns about the potential occurrence of a shooting at their school. Around 29% state they are not overly worried, and 13% say they are not worried at all. Graf (2018) also stated that the levels of worry are also affecting the parents, with 63% indicating at least some level of concern regarding the potential occurrence of a shooting happening at their child’s school. Similar trends emerge concerning race and gender, with nonwhite parents expressing more concern.

School violence, specifically school shootings is becoming more of a critical issue as the years move on. According to Education Week analysis (2024), there have been 7 school shootings this year that resulted in injuries or death. Since 2018, there have been 189 shootings with 38 of them being in 2023 (Education Week, 2024).

As a future elementary school teacher, the number of school shootings increasing year by year has made me very worried and concerned. The primary concern for teachers is the safety and well-being of their students. School shootings pose a significant threat to the safety of the school with educators being responsible for ensuring a safe learning environment. Students, faculty, and everyone associated with the school community should feel safe and protected while going, not fearful of what will happen that day. This is a major concern that still shows no signs of decreasing. As future educators, we must advocate for effective policies and work together to increase prevention rates to protect ourselves, our students, and our community.

How Can We Prevent Violence In Schools?

All members of the school community can play their part in ensuring we keep the school a safe space where everyone feels protected and respected. Jack Hughes, a senior at Radnor High School, entered a video montage explaining how to prevent school violence. The video explains how it impacts students, prevention, statistics, and results. To prevent school violence, members of the school should report incidents of violence to a teacher, guidance counselor, or trusted adult in the school community. This is important as you are sticking up for the person and being the voice for them. Throughout the video, the saying “Say something” is repeated over and over again. When you “say something” it promotes early intervention, prevention, safety, and empowerment. Encouraging individuals to speak up and report concerning behavior is one step closer to creating a safer school environment for all.

Bowling for Columbine:

The film Bowling for Columbine is a documentary film directed by Michael Moore. The documentary explores the causes and consequences of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Colorado, where two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, killed twelve students and one teacher before committing suicide. The film delves into the critical issues surrounding gun violence in schools and American culture.

Watching this documentary made me feel a mix of emotions. All of the phone calls and video surveillance made it feel like I was living in that moment with everyone else. It was scary to watch, especially the parts where the cameras caught the students with the guns and the aftermath. While some students were being interviewed after the incident, I could never imagine watching and listening to the stories they had to witness. No child should ever have to see their classmates dying or having a gun held to their head by another student.

As a future elementary school teacher, the issue of school violence is one that deeply concerns me. This documentary served as a reminder of the potential dangers and challenges that educators may face in schools and society. The safety and well-being of my students would be my top priority. No child should come to school worried, they should feel safe and protected. The events shared in the documentary highlight the devastating impact that school violence can have on students, their families, and the community.

Additionally, issues of school violence can result in an increased amount of anxiety within the school community. Schools should increase security measures such as lockdown drills and cameras which can decrease the amount of fear and anxiety within the people in the school. As a future teacher, I would strive to address these concerns and provide support to students who may be struggling by building an open and trusting relationship with all of them.

References:

Fast Fact: Preventing School Violence |Violence Prevention|Injury Center|CDC. (n.d.). https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/schoolviolence/fastfact.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fviolenceprevention%2Fyouthviolence%2Fschoolviolence%2Findex.html