Unbelievable! Incredible! Unfathomable! Unconscionable! These are words we have heard to describe the terrible school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. This senseless act was all that, and much more. With each interview, another descriptor was uttered to add to the growing list of terms used to describe the murders. Let me add another word to that list: predictable. Yes, predictable. We all have been led to believe that if we can predict a crisis, we can prevent it. Fiscal cliff aside, this is generally true. However, we could see these shootings coming, and they still occurred. So much for predicting and preventing.
I know it is not politically correct to say things like this at a time like this, but frankly, there is no better time than now - today. I have found that the best crisis plans were written the day AFTER a crisis. All the excuses for not having a plan were eliminated with the crisis. There was no money, the leaders could not clear their calendars to attend the meetings, and on and on. This is the time to address this matter. We've had a crisis. Those of us in leadership roles must do all we can to prevent this from happening in our state, in our schools, to our kids, and this cannot be put off for a more convenient time.
Why do I say school shootings are predictable? Because the record is clear, unequivocal, and right in front of us. Here are the facts. Since 2000, the year after Columbine, through 2010, there have been 215 school homicides, an average of 19.5 students/teachers killed per year. That is only the homicides - the deaths at schools. It does not include the countless shootings where no one died, was injured, or even hit. And, this did not include the 33 that died in 1999, the year of Columbine. Only 14 homicides were recorded the next year in 2000, a significant drop to be sure, and there were only 14 more deaths in 2001. But then, the numbers started rising. Sixteen (16), 18, 23, 21, 22. In 2007, it reached 32 homicides - incredibly, just one less than the year of Columbine.
But did you know that? Did anyone have a TV special to tell this story? Any newspaper editorials? Did any teary eyed politician demand a federal investigation. Any "we'll get to the bottom of this" bravado? No, none of that. Something so tragic, and so predictable, was all but ignored.
If I sound as if I'm a bit ticked, I am. I have been speaking about this issue for about seven years when I first saw the trend line going in the wrong direction. I cannot influence the United States but WSSCA has a significant audience in Wisconsin and we plan to use our bully pulpit to address the matter, starting here and now.
Where do we start? Gun laws, violent movies and videos, threatening music, higher divorce rates, and teen pregnancy, and more can and should be addressed, but not here. Not yet. That all will take time and money, and at this point, we do not have enough of either.
For the immediate future, there are things we can do to make our schools safer.
Let's start with point #1. It can happen here! Unfortunately, too many school and community leaders STILL will not/cannot accept this fact. Until this most obvious issue is settled, there is not much that will get done to make things better. Contrary to public opinion, the majority of school shootings have occurred in rural and suburban areas, not in the urban schools. In the eight years I was the chief of security In Milwaukee's Public Schools, we did not have any kids killed in our schools and only one was shot (in the toe after an accidental discharge). In the past thirty years we are aware of three fatal school shootings in Wisconsin and all were rural or suburban areas where most of Wisconsin's schools are located. So yes, it can happen here in District Anywhere, Wisconsin. Got that? It can happen here.
Point #2. We can makes things better without a lot of money. We don't need to open our wallets, but we need to open our minds and our eyes. Here are just a few points to consider. According to the 2002 joint report from the United States Secret Service/Department of Education, there is no useful profile of a school shooter (they have been different sizes, ages, backgrounds, and yes, sexes, etc.) so we don't have any secret formula we can apply to identify likely shooters. Yet, there are some things we can use to help us. Three quarters (75%) of the shooters felt bullied, and that appeared to have been a factor in the attack. Seventy-eight percent (78%) had attempted suicide or had suicidal thoughts before the attack. We learned that almost all of the attackers (93%) "engaged in some behavior prior to the incident that caused others concern or indicated a need for help." Finally, "98% had experienced or had perceived some major loss prior to the attack (girlfriend broke up, divorce of parents, death of a loved one, etc.). That may explain why people have frequently used the phrase "he snapped" to describe the cause of the event. We all know kids that have some of the aforementioned challenges. However, when we identify kids who have several, we need to spend a little more time with them. Especially, when we hear of a significant loss to that child.
There is one other fact that we can consider in preventing these tragedies. An overwhelming number of shooters (73%) "leaked" or told someone of their intentions and in 59% of the cases, more than one person was aware of the plan. There are countless examples of school leaders who ran with rumors, hints, and tiny bits of information and eventually stopped a tragedy. While we cannot accurately measure what we have prevented, we can learn from success stories such as these. We have to create an environment where our students are comfortable telling an adult about something they heard. The kids' culture says "snitches get stitches and end up in ditches. " They will remember some catchy cliché like that rather than the one we adults prefer, "If you see something - say something." But we have to try to make our point. Remember the Nancy Reagan "Just Say No" campaign? People chuckled, but every kid knew it.
The aforementioned federal report validated what I and many security experts believe: Cameras and locks are great tools for school security, but an open relationship with our kids is the best defense we have. Want to know where to start in your school? This is it. What is the climate in your school? Do your teachers and other adults freely and openly interact with your students? To create a safe climate, the adults must be approachable if we are to learn of these threatening conditions and to stop these tragedies.
#3. Lock your doors. A reporter recently told me she was surprised how easily it was for her to enter schools . Doors in MANY schools she visited were unlocked. The locked doors at Sandy Hook didn't stop this killer, you say, but it may have slowed him down. In the time he was delayed forcing his way into the school several things may have happened that disrupted his plan and reduced the number of bullets he fired. Or he may have heard the police sirens. We may never know. We may only be creating speed bumps, but every bump causes delays, and every delay gives us options. Locking the doors is a no-brainier. Do it.
What is WSSCA doing about this continuing pattern of school shootings? Of course, these three items are not a complete list. My list of action steps is a page long but I wanted to give you something to do now. Concerned parents will be contacting your school seeking reassurance, and this is a start. I will add more suggestions to WSSCA's website very soon. Also, we will address school shootings at the conference on February 25 and 26. We will then present a special Act 309 (the School Safety Law that goes into effect in 2013) on April 3 in Eau Claire to help schools understand what they must do to comply with the new law. Our future newsletters will feature more information like the aforementioned facts, statistics, and suggestions. Watch for details on the website or in follow up newsletters. Finally, and most importantly, we will strongly encourage our leaders to get together and find common ground upon we which can agree. Hugs make us feel good, but they don't get the job done. We need action. For example, you can't afford a full time police officer? Since an overwhelming number of school shootings occur in the morning, maybe we can add a part time officer in the morning only. Or, we can ask the local police to patrol the school in the mornings only. This won't solve all the problems but it addresses part of it, giving us time, then giving us options. See? There are things for us to consider, without a lot of money.
Is there any good news? Well, maybe. As bad as the school homicide statistics are since Columbine, it was worse - much worse, in the years before. In the seven year period of 1993 to 1999, there were more school homicides than in the eleven years following that period (218 v. 215). The average was an incredible 31 homicides per year (v. 19.5). So, yes, statistically, we are better off. But, there is that word - but. The trend line remains in the wrong direction and I have to ask: "Did we learn nothing from Columbine? Did those kids and that teacher die in vain?" This column does not provide the necessary space to address that question, but I sure hope not. I think the victims and their loved ones deserve better from those of us who remain. If we reduced school homicides from 33 to 14 in a single year, then held it there for several years, why can't we do it again? I believe we can. Bottom line: We must start addressing this problem. The lives of our students and our teachers are at stake. We have 800,000 kids in Wisconsin, but not a single one to spare.
So, what is next? Will we learn from this tragedy? Will we see a Federal or State Task Force developed to address this problem? Will funds be provided to give administrators some relief for their dwindling security budgets? Will things be better a year from now? I admit I am a skeptic on this. I've seen too many tragedies, heard too much hot air, and seen too little action. I say, I doubt it. And you say, unbelievable, incredible, unfathomable, unconscionable. And you are correct.
Peter Pochowski, Executive Director
WSSCA