School Violence.

Why It Happens, What You Can Do

The images from Santana High School in Santee, California, last month were all too familiar. Two years after the Columbine killings, isolated young people continue to lash out. Here, a leading expert on youth and violence helps us understand why these tragedies occur and how we can prevent them.

How frequent are shootings such as the ones at Santana and Columbine?

They are very rare. You can count on a single hand the number of school shootings that take place in a year across the nation. These events are significant, however, because they are lethal. Young people die. These are powerful and tragic events that have a profound impact on all of us.

What is the most common form of violence teens face in schools? Is it bullying? Fistfights?

The most common physical violence teens face is being shoved and pushed. If you take a broader view of violent behavior, the most common form is one student humiliating, threatening, or belittling another student.

Is there such a thing as a "profile" of a teen who kills?

You may not be able to say who will definitely be violent, but you can certainly identify teens who are at risk. The kids who kill don't just come out of nowhere. In every single school shooting, the shooters had many risk factors. Risk factors add up -- the more a teen has, the more likely he or she is to have serious problems. Risk factors include:

* being aggressive and impulsive;

* being left out of social activities at school;

* having academic difficulties;

* coming from broken homes where parents haven't figured out how to be healthy caregivers;

* exposure to violence in the home;

* past child abuse.

Each one of these conditions can be found in the lives of a number of children in any school. These risk factors cannot predict who is going to kill, but they certainly can tell us who needs help.

Is there a common motive behind the recent school shootings?

In the last 10 high-profile shootings, there has not been a common pattern of motivation. It is very difficult to determine the motive in these shootings. We do know all of these kids seem cut off from strong, lasting relationships with friends and family.

What can we do to keep everyone safe, and at the same time not overreact to aggression that may be part of normal teenage life?

We shouldn't overreact, but we do need to act. We need to be more respectful of each other. If you take a teen who comes from a broken home, and he is teased about that, and his teacher doesn't respond, the teen will feel unsafe and undervalued in school. We should create an environment in school in which everyone feels included.

We tolerate too much bullying. And there are degrees of bullying. These days, people are much more tolerant of demeaning, sarcastic behavior. Teasing someone for a physical trait, such as being overweight, is emotional bullying. It hurts, If a kid is asked to read out loud and stammers or makes a mistake, laughing at or teasing her makes her feel humiliated.

The way we treat each other in the classroom is related to these violent acts. If a teen feels valued, respected, and included at school, it is highly unlikely that he would take a gun and kill his classmates.

What should a teen do upon learning that a classmate plans to commit an act of violence?

Teens should pay attention when people make threats about killing, carrying guns, and assaulting others. Kids really should tell teachers if they know that someone has brought or is planning to bring a gun to school. It's a lot better to be cautious and let people know.

Even if a good friend makes a threat, you really should take that seriously. Tell an adult whom you know and trust -- a parent, a teacher, someone in the clergy. It isn't a teen's responsibility to solve the problem alone. Go to an adult who will take the next steps. If you had a friend who said, "I want to kill myself," you would act to get help for your friend. This is the same kind of behavior--when you respond to a threat, you are doing the right thing for everyone.