Keys to preventing school violence

As school systems and educational institutions reopen for another year, lesson plans can be overshadowed by the potential risk of misbehavior and violence. School leaders can help address concerns by reviewing their school violence prevention plan and crisis response strategy with their employees. In addition, it can be beneficial to involve students and parents because a return to the classroom can have an impact on student behavior.

How can schools prevent violence?

Having a formal plan developed to help prepare for and respond to an emergency is essential in creating a safe environment for teachers and students. As lockdown drills become more common in schools across the U.S., students and parents may wonder how safe their school is. Preventing school violence is not easy. However, preparedness can give schools a good foundation for safety. This can include prevention and early intervention strategies, as well as recognizing early warning signs and community interaction.

What helps make a school safer?

Strategies for preventing and responding to school violence can be more efficient in communities that focus on the following:

• Emphasizing academic achievement,
• Engaging in meaningful family relationships,
• Providing close ties to community resources,
• Offering student support from school staff,
• Discussing safety issues openly,
• Treating students equitably and with respect,
• Creating ways for students to share concerns,
• Helping children feel safe while expressing their emotions,
• Having a system to refer victims of suspected abuse or neglect,
• Offering extended before- and after-school programs for children,
• Promoting good citizenship and character,
• Identifying problems and assess progress towards solutions,
• Supporting students in making the transition to adult life and workplace,
• Educating students and school community on signs of violence,
• Giving students and communities a voice, and
• Understanding mental health among youth and teens.

Youth and teens mental health

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports one in six U.S. youth, ages 6-17, experience a mental health disorder every year. NAMI claims half of those conditions start by age 14 with behavior problems, and anxiety and depression are among the issues most commonly diagnosed. In the past year, about half of students with mental health conditions received treatment, according to NAMI, a nonprofit partner of The Hartford.

What are the warning signs of a troubled student?

Teachers and school officials should know how to recognize and identify behavioral or emotional problems in a student. While behavioral or emotional problems do not necessarily result in school violence, they are indicators that the student needs help. Being able to recognize those signs and being proactive to offer ways to help is a critical part of student safety.

Some early warning signs for teachers, parents and officials include social withdrawal, as well as excessive feelings of rejection, isolation and being alone. In addition, having been a victim of violence and possessing feelings of being picked on and persecuted can be early indicators for teachers and parents.

More imminent warning signs that a student may act violently include serious physical fighting with peers or family members and severe destruction of property. Other looming signals include severe rage for seemingly minor reasons and detailed threats of lethal violence.

How should schools respond to early warning signs?

However, it is important for school officials to not jump to conclusions after recognizing early warning signs. To help interpret any signs, teachers and administrators should follow these principles:

• Do no harm.
• Understand violence and aggression within context.
• Don’t tolerate stereotypes.
• Consider the student’s developmental level.
• Look for multiple warning signs.

How should schools respond to imminent warning signs?

However, after witnessing any imminent warning signs, school officials need to take immediate action if a student initiates any of the following activities:

• Presents a detailed plan to harm or kill others,
• Singles out students or staff in threats,
• Warns family and friends to stay away from an area during a specific date or time,
• Makes social media posts admiring past shooters or terrorists,
• Posts pictures pointing a firearm at themselves or the camera,
• Threatens to use a weapon,
• Carries a weapon, or
• Presents other threatening behaviors.

If any of these signs are observed, officials should inform the student’s parents, and if required by law, notify the required agencies such as child and family services.

Creating a school security plan

Controlling access to and from school buildings is an essential part of overall safety. When reviewing, updating or creating a school security plan, officials should try to address these seven areas:

1. Control access by only having one unlocked entrance door to each building and keeping all other access points locked.
2. Monitor visitors and have a policy where staff signs them in and out.
3. Report strangers who don’t have identification or seem suspicious.
4. Install alarms that offer full perimeter protection and interior motion detection. This can include silent alarms for offices or out-of-the-way areas
5. Install metal detectors if you determine they’re appropriate for your school.
6. Employ on-site security staff, whether it’s through a privately contracted company or School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned by your local police department.
7. Ensure proper training so officers or other security personnel have knowledge and experience in various areas like school psychology, conflict resolution and federal and state laws about child abuse or neglect.

Develop a violence prevention and response plan

Violence prevention and response plans are unique to each school and educational institution, and not every school is the same. While there are distinct needs between teachers, students and the greater community, there are some consistent areas to include in a plan. This involves early warning signs of potentially violent behavior and procedures for identifying children who exhibit early warning signs. In addition, effective prevention practices and strategies to help troubled students should be included.

Addressing school violence requires educators and community members to come together and create a prevention and response team that comprises people in the broader community including building administrators, general and special education teachers, parents, pupil support services representatives, school resource officers, safe and drug-free schools program coordinators, community leaders, and law enforcement personnel.

Prepare for the worst-case scenario

School violence can happen anytime and anywhere. While no school is immune to the possibility of violence, preparing for the worst can be beneficial to providing a secure learning environment for students and teachers. The two components that are critical to school safety are intervention and response. It is imperative to know what kind of situations will require immediate, planned action and long-term intervention. This may consist of students bringing weapons to school, fights, natural disasters, accidents, bomb threats or explosions, and suicides.

In addition, schools should assist students and faculty in adjusting to short- and long-term mental health counseling. Educators, families and students can lean on NAMI and other community organizations for education and mental health support. When victims and family members re-enter the school environment with a process, it makes it easier to adjust. This can even be beneficial in helping students and teachers address the return of a previously removed student from the school and make the transition smoother.

Dr. Michael Lacriox is the Medical Director at The Hartford. Heather Savino is Head of Education at The Hartford. She has more than 18 years of underwriting experience with a specific focus on industry specialization in The Hartford’s niche and program business. The information provided is intended to be general and advisory in nature. It shall not be considered legal advice.

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