School Safety
Leadership

This Article Was Included
in the Education Pull-Out Section
of Jewish World on March 15, 2001

Again and again we are shocked by senseless episodes of school violence. Mass killings, planned attacks with hit lists, and weapons used to resolve differences, confront us almost daily somewhere in this country. Violence continues in spite of the dedicated efforts of so many at stopping the repeated disruptions that interrupt children's learning and sense of security, and put into question our sense of our own humanity.

Those of us in the Capital Region Safe Schools Task Force which developed Safe Schools: A Model Plan in 1995, and disseminated it to all twenty-four school districts in the Capital Region BOCES, as well as to Legislators, Government Officials and many others, worked diligently to assist school districts in developing local Safe Schools Plans. However, we have seen a major societal shift since that period that is evidenced by road rage, drive-by shootings, and gangs. Reaction time has increased; patience has decreased. Desensitization appears to be global as we watch children killing children without empathy or remorse. Once located primarily within the boundaries of our major cities, gang activity, road rage, and resolution of differences by violence have permeated our communities and infiltrated our schools. While the recommendations of the Task Force were consistent with the research and practice of only a few years ago, there are outbreaks happening daily which we could not have even imagined. We need to come together again, bringing the best thinking of each of us from all perspectives, to begin to understand and address this epidemic of rage.

Those working in high poverty areas say that violence has always been part of their environmnet, but that it is only receiving media attention now because it is occurring in the suburbs. Others say that the cause of shootings is different in the middle class where disconnection, rather than turf issues, appears to be a component. Perhaps the most frightening aspect is that we don'tknow where we are failing as a society, and the results of our failure are maiming and killing our young people's bodies, attacking their sense of security, and perhaps even altering their views of the world.

When we cannot find answers in the obvious, we must begin to ask more difficult questions like, "What evidence do I see that our children do not feel secure? accepted? cared about? loved? and what can I, and we, do about it?" Maybe the best place to begin is by asking our children. And then, let us, individually and collectively, very carefully listen to their answers.

Sue Shipe was the Chair of the Capital Region Safe Schools Task Force, and is author of United We Stand: Reflections on a True Democracy.