School Safety Approaches and Challenges After Tragic Incidents

School shootings, such as the tragic event in Santa Clarita, California, have shifted national attention towards improving school safety. Across the United States, schools are exploring various methods to prevent becoming sites of future tragedies. One increasing trend involves implementing security measures commonly referred to as ‘hardening’ the institutions. Several states, at least eight, have enacted laws requiring active shooter drills in schools. Nonetheless, there is minimal research available to confirm these drills’ effectiveness.

Impact of Active Shooter Drills on Students

In Illinois, a new law mandates active shooter drills in schools. These drills involve students hiding or evacuating as part of the procedure. Some parents appreciate this preparation. Ronick Frazier, with two daughters attending school in Champaign, Illinois, supports the drills, stating they do more good than potential harm by preparing children for real situations. However, concerns arise regarding the drills’ impact on vulnerable children.

For instance, Dianne, a parent from Champaign, witnessed the negative effects on her daughter Rory, a 7-year-old on the autism spectrum with ADHD. During a ‘hard lockdown drill,’ students were instructed to stay silent and calm. Rory returned home distressed and fearful of potential threats. The experience led Dianne to oppose mandatory participation in these drills for children.

Melissa Brymer from the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress acknowledges emergency situations can occur suddenly. She believes drills may save lives, yet concedes that research, like a study from Ball State University, provides limited evidence due to the rarity of such incidents.

Schools with Security Measures Still Witness Incidents

A recent report from the U.S. Secret Service explored the efficiency of security measures like active shooter drills. Researchers identified 41 targeted school attacks from 2008 to 2017. Findings revealed 83% of the attacks concluded within five minutes, and 68% occurred in schools with existing lockdown procedures. These statistics suggest lockdowns might not prevent incidents but can limit their impact.

The report’s author, Lina Alathari, emphasizes the need for comprehensive preventive approaches. These entail collaboration among educators, mental health professionals, and potentially law enforcement. Alathari points out that threat assessment is crucial. Schools should identify students with concerning behaviors and provide support before violent options arise.

The report highlights a correlation between bullying and distress among attackers. In four out of five cases, attackers were bullied long-term, with most being victims rather than perpetrators.

The Role of Climate and Communication in Schools

After the Columbine attack in 1999, the Secret Service conducted initial reviews of similar incidents. Back then, bullying affected 71% of the attackers. Despite anti-bullying measures over two decades, such occurrences persist.

Alathari urges school leaders to assess the perception and intervention of bullying within their institutions. Evidence suggests that a positive school climate can save lives. Notably, 90% of attackers gave advance warning signs, such as threatening messages. However, failure to report these signs remains an issue. Factors affecting reporting include fear of inaction by schools and potential repercussions for the informant.

Threat assessments indicate targeted attacks are rare, occurring around four times annually across numerous schools. The report underlines the absence of an upward trend in occurrence or severity. These insights advocate for preventive measures to strengthen school environments, irrespective of the worst-case outcomes.