|
|
Credit: Flickr User: Futureatlas.com
Education Dive
Secret Service: 'Prevention is key' in addressing school violence
Shawna De La Rosa
Nov. 12, 2019
Dive Brief:
The Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center studied 41
incidents of school violence that occurred between 2008-2017 and found
many could have been prevented, according to the Protecting America’s
Schools report. The report states that schools should establish
prevention programs to identify students of concern, assess their risk
for engaging in violence and intervene early.
The report states that “Prevention is key,” but there is no typical
profile of a student attacker. Attackers usually have multiple motives,
but most often they include a grievance with at least one fellow
student. They also tend to use firearms acquired at home.
Schools where attacks took place were almost all public and most were
suburban high schools. More than half of the attacks took place at
schools with fewer than 1,000 students and half had on-site school
resource officers..
Dive Insight:
The Secret Service recommends schools implement multidisciplinary
school threat assessment teams to identify students showing troubling
behavior. The study shows that only 9 of the 41 schools studied had a
program in place to examine red flag behavior. It’s also important to
have an on-site immediate response plan, as most attacks last less than
five minutes, the report says.
Districts face the challenge of balancing a safe environment with a
nurturing one. Cameras and metal detectors can create a prison-like
atmosphere. Social-emotional prevention strategies, as suggested in the
Secret Service report, may be more effective and are recommended for
those identified as being at-risk.
New building designs and renovation now take safety and security
measures into consideration. Enhancing a school with more safety
features doesn’t have to make it ugly or unwelcoming. Fortification can
be disguised in attractive ways. For example, more natural light and
fewer entry points brighten the school but allow staff members to
monitor the exits and entrances.
Many students and parents prefer more mental health and wraparound
services, rather than arming teachers to prevent violence. Speakers at
Federal Commission on School Safety listening session in 2018 made
their concerns known when they said increased police presence in
schools may be contributing to the criminalization of youth.
Congressman John Rutherford, R-Florida, urged the implementation
of the STOP School Violence Act, which includes funding for violence
prevention, as well as providing funds for more physical security
measures.
|
|
|
|
