Written by Meagan Power
School violence are tragic events that happen daily. This leaves profound and far-reaching effects on students, teachers, and the community as a whole. These incidents not only leave people with the result in the loss of lives but also leave lasting emotional, psychological, and social scars that can take years to heal, causing everyone to feel less safe when going to school.
In response to school violence, there are growing preventive measures: schools are implementing stricter security protocols, surveillance systems, active shooter drills, and automatic locked classrooms. Some schools are even putting in measures that will allow teachers to defend themselves if something were to occur.
Government and politics teacher Ms. Apgar notes, “I wouldn’t want classrooms designed with no windows or automatic locks because it would feel like jail. I would rather defend myself physically than use excessive force to do it.”
Students and teachers who witness or are involved in one of these incidents suffer from PTSD. Many students who have never been involved also have the constant fear of an attack happening. This makes it difficult for students to focus on their studies and for teachers to effectively perform their duties because of the constant fear of being unsafe.
Senior Gianna Bisceglia says worries fill her head when attending school. “At school, I feel like a 2. I know that we have security measures, but it could be a lot better because you never know what someone could have on them.” For Gianna, the sense of safety and normalcy within schools is shattered when it is replaced by fear and anxiety.
The effects of school violence are far-reaching and many-sided, and impact the mental health of individuals, the cohesion of communities, and overall safety at school. By understanding the lasting effects of these situations and working collaboratively to address the underlying issues, communities can take the first steps to create a safer educational environment.