School volence: what to do?

Question

It is NOT new.
It has a long history in America, preceding violent television shows and video games.
(see additional info, below)

Arming principals and/or teachers is not the solution.
That could be fatal if innocent by-standers are accidentally shot, or the principal is accidentally taken out by police.

So what are your suggestions to protect America's most valuable resource (our children)?

History of school violence, portion from USA Today:

"The worst school attack in U.S. history occurred in 1927, when a farmer angry about school taxes blew up a school in Bath, Mich., killing 45. In 1959, a man trying to enroll his son into a Houston elementary school detonated a suitcase filled with dynamite, killing six. In 1979, a 16-year-old girl who had been given a rifle for Christmas, instead of the radio she asked for, shot from her home into an elementary school across the street in San Diego, killing two adults. Her motive: "I don't like Mondays."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/

(sorry: "violence")

Several good responses, a few odd ones.
Arming everyone is a fools game which invites more problems.
Although I consider myself a religious person with moderate conservative viewpoints, I don't subscribe to some suggestions that bringing prayer, Christianity and/or Republican teachers into the classroom will do much to reduce school violence.
I suspect it MUST start with the parents (read: a mom and a dad who are home and active in a childs' life).
Thanks to all who answered...Kit & XX had the best replies!

Answer 1

Personally I think schools should install metal detectors into the sides of every door so any metallic weapons may be found and disposed of accordingly. In addition, the schools should hire professionals who specialize in finding weapons, drugs, etc. to do random searches of the school, utilizing their knowledge of weapons, drugs, alcohol, etc. along with using search dogs which are trained to find anything potentially dangerous. Finally, students should be closely monitored by the staff of the schools and if anything suspicious is going on, they should instantly perform an investigation.

That's just my idea though, and if things were honestly this simple to answer, I believe someone much smarter than the users of Yahoo! Answers would have found it and put it into effect already.

EDIT: Another idea I thought of just after posting this answer; students should all be issued student ID's with their picture and personal information labeled on it, along with a form of a biometric scanner to scan a bar code which they could place on the cards to record when students enter and leave certain rooms in the building. This could help with tracking attendance along with the movement of students in the building.

Answer 2

It is a manifestation/effect of how American society has for several decades spiralled down into the depths of liberatarian anarchy. Gone are the days when the basic, most basic moral values of which the Union was forged were instilled in the minds of the next generation. We need more schools that teach these intrinsic moral values that transcend race, religion and social status and in some way we can start off the next generation right.

And security cameras, point of entry checkpoints,security patrols and police dogs in all public schools should do the trick.

< democracy without values is anarchy >

Answer 3

Your first problem is reading USA today, unarguably one of the WORST national newspapers in America.

If parents started treating their children like they were treated growing up, the problems would stop. But thanks to the "children have to feel good about themselves" Democrats that populate the teacher's unions this standard is hard to enforce, because the teacher is telling the student "your parents can't do that to you."

The worst thing this country ever did was turn the education system over to the fuzzy pink sweatered leftists. Bring back that mean fat Republican teacher who cracked knuckles with a ruler and the nonsense will stop.

Until then, people like you should just stop whining about it.

Answer 4

You are right this is not something new I remember being in school about 1958 and having a local man threaten to shot people in the school. The matter was taken care of and nothing else was said about it. I do remember asking why and being afraid! If people would not be ashamed or afraid to address any emotional problems they may have that might help! People learning to really care for one another would be a big plus as well! Learn to follow the golden rule-Do unto others as you would have then do unto you!

Answer 5

Maybe at schools if they had a head receptionist like in a office that made you sign in and wear a badge etc. Then you have to be escorted wherever you are going in the building. That way no funny stuff. This is only an idea. I was pondering this same question myself and just dont know how to come up with a suggestion.

Answer 6

Put the ten commandments back in the schools, allow bible reading and prayer and stop treating Christianity like an evil subject.Allow pastors from local churches to come into the schools once a week for a special assembly, for those who want to attend and let the others stay in study hall.

Answer 7

I happen to believe that most school violence is as a result of trying to impress girls. If you divide the education system in two, you dramatically reduce incidences of school violence. Mean girls lose their power, macho boys lose their power, teen pregnancy falls dramatically.

Split the school system into girl and boy schools. It's truly that simple, but the PC police will never allow it, claiming there are too many differences in the way each gender is taught.

Answer 8

Hate to say this because someone will pay shooter tomorrow. How many school shootings happened in Washington, DC were guns are banned.

Answer 9

i got bad news, you cant do much more, metal detectors, police bring dogs to check lockers, unless if you want to turn it into a prison, thats as good as it gets.

Answer 10

Arm everyone.

"An armed society is a polite society."