After the unspeakable tragedy of school shootings in Connecticut, a number of ideas have been brought forth regarding how to prevent a similar event from ever happening again.
From banning guns to hiring armed security guards in every school, the nation is debating what course of action to take. Having spent the vast majority of my life in school as a student or as an educator, I have some different ideas on what actions we take in the wake of the Newtown tragedy.
First, let’s start by having some meaningful conversations about effective parenting and what we can do to help parents. Second, let’s devote appropriate resources to help with that endeavor. Adults need training and a license for any number of occupations, as well as seemingly simple tasks such as driving a car, hunting and carrying a concealed weapon. Yet, almost anyone can create another life. And unfortunately, what happens after that life is created is often a hit-and-miss affair.
Research has identified some valuable, yet relatively basic, needs parents must meet. For example, according to WebMD, children 3-6 years old need 10-12 hours of sleep per day. Children 7-12 years old need 10-11 hours of sleep per day, and children 12-18 years old need eight to nine hours of sleep per day.
Of course, proper nutrition and hydration are essential for healthy bodies and minds. And all of us need exercise, but good, old-fashioned play is an important component in a child’s development. Next comes awareness; parents must spend time with their children, learning what motivates, scares and excites them. With this awareness comes the ability to identify when something is wrong — something that might warrant professional intervention. Finally, parents must know when to ask for help, to involve those professionals, whether they are pastors, counselors, doctors, teachers and so on. In using these tools, parents teach their children not only how to succeed in school but how to succeed in life.
Schools are drug-free and gun-free zones, so the idea of having more guns in schools to combat violence is counterintuitive. Some have suggested that having armed security guards in every school or arming school administrators and teachers will prevent school violence. These ideas are merely a knee-jerk reaction, not a well-conceived solution.
Having an armed guard in every school is not necessarily a deterrent; the guard can either be avoided or be a target. It will not guarantee school safety. Arming teachers or administrators is wrong on many levels, but most importantly, it increases their responsibility and risks an accidental shooting. Rather than trying to create an armed fortress, complete with a kindergarten teacher “packing heat,” let’s ask a group of professionals, including both school officials and local law enforcement, to create a workable school safety plan for every school building.
An appropriate approach to school violence is one that includes a measured, comprehensive and well thought-out plan. This plan includes professionals at all levels, beginning with parenting assistance. No plan can foresee every possible scenario, but with the help of dedicated and experienced professionals, we can find a solution worthy of our children.
Alan L. Neville is an associate professor of education at Northern State University. The views are his and do not represent NSU.