School Safety: Lessons Learned Dr. Scott Poland, N.S.U. Dr. Steve Rosenberg, P.S.I.

Scott’s Recent Congressional Testimony Strengthening School Safety and Prevention of Bullying House Education and early Childhood Joint Subcommittee Hearing on July 8, 2009 Witnesses Politics/Issues Focus of my testimony

FACTS: Probability of death every year for youth age 5 to 19 Any cause: 1 in 3000 Traffic accident: 1 in 8,000 Homicide away from school: 1 in 21,000 Suicide away from school: 1 in 28,000 Homicide at school: 1 in 1,700,000 Source Scientific American Fall 2007

Data: U.S. School Violent Deaths Source school year 27 deaths school year 32 deaths school year 16 deaths school year 12 deaths

Non Criminal Incidents Bill Modzeleski the Director of Safe Schools for U.S. Department of Education cited 11 million incidents annually in schools of bullying or harassment

Parents of murdered children advocate for…. more religion limit gun access to kids better parenting more mental health limit media violence

Violence Key Points Increase in violent incidents intended to kill 2 or more people Warning signs in violent fantasies and distorted sense of what is just Signs of trouble include aggression, interest in obtaining guns, collecting posters of school shooters and being a social loner

Columbine by Dave Cullen 2009 Hatchette Book Group Based on 10 years of research and countless interviews Dispels many myths: not trench coat mafia and result of anger at jocks and popular students Media got it wrong, misinformation and mythology She did not say yes to belief in God

Cullen Continued Eric Harris was a psychopath, “You know what I hate? Mankind!!! Kill Everything” Dylan Klebold was depressed, suicidal and easily led Killings were random and target was entire school Columbine best viewed as a failed bombing Extensive law enforcement cover up

Why Kids Kill by Peter Langman Palgrave Macmillan (2009) Based on his study of 10 school shooters that killed 74 and wounded 92 Rampage acts best understood as a result of their personalities and life history Hypothesized there are three types of shooters

Types of Shooters Psychopathic—narcissistic without a conscience—aspiring to be godlike— paranoid, sadistic with antisocial personality traits Psychotic—avoidant, schizotypal and dependent personality traits—paranoid delusions, auditory hallucinations— depressed and full of rage

Third Type Traumatized Shooters—suffered emotional and physical abuse at home—were sexually abused—lived with ongoing stress and losses—parents had substance abuse problems--frequent moves—lost parent to separation, jail and death—trauma history resulted in suicidal thoughts

Langman Suggestions to Prevent School Shootings Limit adolescent privacy Don’t lie to protect your child Follow through with due process Pay attention to what the schools says Eliminate easy access to guns Take threats seriously

More Suggestions Anyone can stop a school shooting Recognize rehearsal and planning of attacks Punishment is not prevention Physical security alone is not the answer Utilize threat assessment teams Good communication and positive culture important at school

Red Lake, MN School Shooting dead in the community 8 dead at Red Lake High School

Family/Trauma History of J. (perpetrator) Parents separated when young Lived with mom and her boyfriend Severely disciplined (locked in closet) Father died by suicide when J. was 8 (standoff with tribal police) Mother in car accident suffered brain injury and in nursing home Moved frequently

Recent History Bullied and harassed at school Black-garbed loner Described as “floating alone” Introvert at school Outspoken on internet Posted often on neo-Nazi web-site Created violent animated story on internet about school shootings and suicide

History, cont. Posted entries against racial mixing told other Red Lake students he was going to shoot up school and was questioned and released by police –stopped attending school twice due to depression and harassment –Expelled for unspecified reasons –Suicide attempt summer-2004 –Under psychiatrist’s care –Prozac doubled 2/05 –Viewed film “Elephant” frequently in days before shooting

Red Lake Aftermath Superintendent leave due to emotional reasons Principal suffers heart attack Two students died by suicide in next months Additional suicides on reservation Three classmates believed directly involved in shooting—36 may have had awareness—1 still in jail Hardware measures only being questioned as high school had cameras, metal detectors, and security School officials were not aware of his internet life

Safe School Initiative Report on the Prevention of Targeted Violence in Schools U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center Departments of Education and Justice

Secret Service Report: Preliminary Findings Incidents of targeted violence at school are rarely impulsive and are typically the end result of an understandable and discernible process. Prior to most incidents, the attacker told someone about his idea or plan but did not threaten the target directly. There is no accurate or useful profile for “the school shooter.” Positive connections at school are preventative

Hardware Measures? “Metal detectors and scanners do not stop school shooters instead they promote a sense of danger in a place that ought to feel safe” Frank Roberts, Institute for Violence Prevention in Berlin

Pearl, MS Shooter I probably would not have done it if some adult had just paid attention to me and listened!

Secret Service Report: Preliminary Findings Most attackers had previously used guns and had access to them. Most shooting incidents were not resolved by law enforcement intervention. In many cases, other students were involved in some capacity. One half the attackers had more than one target

Secret Service Report: Preliminary Findings In a number of cases, having been bullied played a key role in the attack. Most attackers engaged in some behavior, prior to the incident, that caused others concern or indicated a need for help. The majority of perpetrators were suicidal

Bullying Philosophical issues/acceptance Definition Bystander/Witness issue Importance of school-wide approach Legislation

Bullying Repetitive Humiliating Physical and/or verbal Involves power 32 states have passed legislation New term bullicide

Reduce Bullying…. Turn the “silent majority” into a “caring majority”.

Federal Anti-bullying Program Take A Stand Lend A Hand: Stop Bullying Funding Available Boys and girls bully differently Cyber-bullying latest phenomenon

Question…. “My student is fascinated by violent video games and plays them for hours….should I be worried?”

Media Influence on Youth Violence Lt. Col. David Grossman … APA and AMA research Bethel, Alaska perpetrator quote

Why don’t students tell adults about violent threats? The “Conspiracy of Silence”!

Threat Assessment Teams Recommended by: FBI Secret Service Colorado Governor’s Report on Columbine

Who should be on a school threat assessment team? Teacher Security/police Community law enforcement Mental health Administrator

Once a threat is made, having a fair, rational, and standard method of evaluating and responding is critical!

Steps in Threat Assessment Evaluate by interviewing –Student who made threat –Recipient –Witnesses Review all school records Consider circumstances and type of threat

School Example Mrs. Jones a parent calls transportation to report that her daughter Julie received an e- mail from Ben a student which stated he is going to shoot kids on the middle school bus tomorrow. Mrs. Jones is concerned about her daughter’s safety. What should you do as your first step? Who needs to get involved?

Case example continued The suspected perpetrator a 7 th grade boy is now at school and you are about to interview him What information from his background and school records might be helpful? What approach might you take and what are the key questions you will ask?

Continued The suspected perpetrator readily admits that he had intended to shoot everyone on the bus as he has been the victim of repeated bullying and in fact had his thumb broken by another student named John on the bus last week What is your next step and how could you reduce the stressors for this student?

Parent information The father of the suspected perpetrator indicates that he has a number of guns at home and they are unlocked and that his son is experienced with guns---what do you recommend? The father also indicates that his son has not been the same since his mother died last spring and that the father has to work in the evening and his son is unsupervised

Continued Rumors are flying around the school about the planned violence on the bus John’s mother has called as she has heard that her son was the primary intended victim What steps do you take to control rumors and what if any information do you provide to faculty, parents and students?

Classify these threats as transient or substantive A student tells other students after school he/she are going to get another student and on interview expresses long standing hatred for the intended victim An angry student threatens to kill another student in class and when interviewed apologizes A student accidentally left a knife in their backpack

Transient Threats No lasting intent to harm someone “heat of the moment”…feelings dissipate It’s clear threat is over and includes and explanation or apology Can be quickly and easily resolved What are some examples of transient threats you have seen?

Elements of Substantial Threat Expresses continued intent to harm Repeats over time and shares with others Threats contain specific details Physical evidence of planning Involves using a weapon What are some examples of substantial threats received in your schools?

School Safety Examples Create safety task force and include students Teach students to deescalate fights Use student safety pledges Floor plan exercise Volusia County Program

School safety is an inside job that most of all involves a commitment from the student body!

“We must reach out to the unreachable!” Craig Scott Columbine Survivor Keys to prevention are getting disillusioned youth involved in activities, finding a job and establishing social ties!

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