School Safety in the U.S.
School Safety
Jake Kristiansen
Senior Committee
Senior Project
13 December 2013
Over the years, the United States has encountered numerous amounts of schools shootings. With every attack that has occurred, how have we failed to stop them? In the future, parents of the students must allow them to enter schools and feel confident that they will be safe. We have the technology and time to emplace tactics that can prevent any type of school shooting, we just need to initiate them. Studying the past shootings and figuring out what went down and how to prevent it is the key. Over the years, most schools in the United States have failed to install safety devices to protect students from harm. Even though, shootings still occur in schools that have well developed plans “If you build a 10-foot fence” the expression goes, “someone is going to find an 11-foot ladder” (Kelly). However, even if a plan may not save every life, if it protects just one more, it has done its job. That is why in order for schools to increase safety for students and teachers, they must study past events, develop a specific plan for safety and train responders and staff on what to do when school shooting occurs. and train for the future. The most recognized school shooting in the last twenty years happened in Columbine Colorado during the year of 1999. There were two shooters that day that killed thirteen people and themselves. This killing caused a national outbreak in school safety. One of the biggest topics that came up during the discussions was bullying and how future incidents can be avoided by tackling our counties bullying problems. (Cloud) Now they have found out that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (the shooters) were never bullied. In fact, they had diaries that contained information about picking on freshmen and “fags.” Their shooting put schools all over the nation on alert. Reports showed that the two teenagers were never on antidepressant medication and
Jake Kristiansen
Senior Committee
Senior Project
13 December 2013
Over the years, the United States has encountered numerous amounts of schools shootings. With every attack that has occurred, how have we failed to stop them? In the future, parents of the students must allow them to enter schools and feel confident that they will be safe. We have the technology and time to emplace tactics that can prevent any type of school shooting, we just need to initiate them. Studying the past shootings and figuring out what went down and how to prevent it is the key. Over the years, most schools in the United States have failed to install safety devices to protect students from harm. Even though, shootings still occur in schools that have well developed plans “If you build a 10-foot fence” the expression goes, “someone is going to find an 11-foot ladder” (Kelly). However, even if a plan may not save every life, if it protects just one more, it has done its job. That is why in order for schools to increase safety for students and teachers, they must study past events, develop a specific plan for safety and train responders and staff on what to do when school shooting occurs. and train for the future. The most recognized school shooting in the last twenty years happened in Columbine Colorado during the year of 1999. There were two shooters that day that killed thirteen people and themselves. This killing caused a national outbreak in school safety. One of the biggest topics that came up during the discussions was bullying and how future incidents can be avoided by tackling our counties bullying problems. (Cloud) Now they have found out that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (the shooters) were never bullied. In fact, they had diaries that contained information about picking on freshmen and “fags.” Their shooting put schools all over the nation on alert. Reports showed that the two teenagers were never on antidepressant medication and
Cited: Cloud, John. "When Bullying Turns Deadly: Can It Be Stopped? Read more: When Bullying Turns Deadly: Can It Be Stopped?." Time. N.p., 24 Oct. 2010. Web Elias, Marilyn. "10 years later, the real story behind Columbine." USA Today. Gannett., 14 Apr. 2009 Watkins, Tom. "Colorado 's school shooting -- over in 80 seconds." CNN. N.p., 15 Dec. 2013. Web "School Safety Video for School Lockdown Emergencies." Campus Safety. Campus Safety Magazine., 2013. Web