In the past couple of years, violence (in terms of shootings) across different educational institutions has been at an all time high. In fact, according to Pew Research Center, most of American teens are worried that a shooting is likely to occur in their school (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Percentages of teens in various age groups worried about school shootings. Image from Pew Research Center.
The more recent event that triggered the mass-shooting cascade took place on February of 2018, at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Out of the 17 individuals that lost their lives, 15 were attending students. Prior to the Parkland shooting, in 2012, 20 students and six teachers were lost in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. To date, the most severe shooting took place last year, at Robb Elementary School in Texas, where 19 students and two teachers were killed. In addition, 18 individuals were left injured.
NPR reported over 27 school shootings in 2022, contributing partly to the country’s total of 200+ mass shootings. Additionally, data from Statista confirms the significant rising trend in school shootings over the years, starting in 1970 (see figure 2).
Figure 2: School shooting prevalence spanning from 1970-2023. Image from Statista.
It’s hard to predict human nature. Trying to understand why people choose to commit treacherous violence and take innocent lives is something that even the most skilled social psychologists cannot theorize. However, a study conducted by criminology professors Jillian Peterson (Hamline University) and James Densley (Metro State University), found that there was a significant correlation between childhood trauma (domestic violence, bullying, mental health, etc.) and whether or not the shooter went the length to commit the crime. While unfortunate, this is understandable. Feelings of hurt, anger, and vengeance are dangerous when they are internalized very strongly by an individual.
Thankfully, there are ways that school shootings can be limited, if not completely abolished. The first scenario to consider is if the school shooter is someone who attends the school, which is a common occurrence. If a student senses that their friend or a fellow peer is acting strange and giving off the sense that they will do something they might regret later, they should ideally inform an adult. While some students may avoid this due to the negative stigma of being a “tattle-tale”, if schools employ anonymous information systems or give more knowledge to students about how to carry out the process, it might become more accepted.
The second scenario is slightly more difficult and this is when a possible shooter is someone that does not attend the given institution. In this case, it is up to the school board and administration to monitor crime in the district and take the necessary preventative measures, including increased surveillance and security. When clear backpacks came into use in South River, New Jersey, there were mixed feelings. Students, of course, despised the new bag, mainly because it couldn’t fit all of their belongings. Teachers and other staff thought it was a simple and effective way to ensure everyones’ safety. Was it a success? Only time will tell. As students, the best thing that we can do is inform the necessary individuals of suspected dangers and advocate for the safety of staff and ourselves.