School Violence: A Threat to Our Children and Our Future

Did you know that one in three students in the United States report being bullied at school? Did you know that more than 200 school shootings have occurred since 2013? Did you know that school violence can lead to lower academic achievement, higher dropout rates, and increased mental health problems for students and staff? These are some of the alarming data that show how school violence is a serious and widespread problem that affects millions of people every year.

School violence is not just a problem for the victims and perpetrators. It is a problem for everyone who cares about the future of our society. School violence can destroy lives, dreams, and communities. It can rob our children of their innocence, their confidence, and their potential. It can undermine the quality of education and the development of skills and values that are essential for success in life.

We cannot afford to ignore or tolerate school violence any longer. We have a moral obligation and a social responsibility to prevent it and stop it. We have the power and the resources to be effective. We have the evidence and the strategies to create safe and supportive school environments where students can learn, grow, and thrive.

How can we do this? We need to act now before it is too late. We need to work together as parents, teachers, students, administrators, policymakers, and community members to address the root causes and risk factors of school violence. We need to implement proven programs and practices that promote positive behaviors, relationships, and attitudes among students and staff. We need to develop effective policies and procedures that prevent, identify, and respond to threats and incidents of school violence. We need to establish strong partnerships between schools and other agencies and organizations that can provide additional support and resources.

We have a choice. We can either accept school violence as a normal part of our society or we can reject it as an unacceptable violation of our human rights. We can either let school violence continue to harm our children or we can protect them from its devastating effects. We can either watch school violence ruin our future or we can shape it with our actions.

The choice is ours. Let us choose wisely. Let us choose peace.

Thank you,

Paul

About the Author

Joseph “Paul” Manley is the Founder and Principal of Risk Mitigation Technologies, LLC, a Training and Independent Consulting Firm with a focus on violence detection, prevention, response, and recovery. Paul is a retired Massachusetts Police Lieutenant, Adjunct Lecturer, Board-Certified Workplace Violence and Threat Specialist, Security Expert, and Trainer.