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Educators prepare against the ‘nightmare’ of violence
by Robb Fulcher
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Robert "Duffy" Clark, superintendent of Hermosa schools, said a deadly incident in Santee, Calif. prompted a change in local school policy. Photo by Robb Fulcer |
Violence on local school campuses can best be prevented by increased campus security, help for troubled students, character building programs, and open communication among kids and adults, the three top educators in the beach cities told community leaders.
Superintendents of the three public school districts detailed preventive steps that have been taken since the April 1999 Columbine High School shootings in Colorado brought increased national attention to potential violence on campus.
"It’s my worst nightmare as a superintendent," Manhattan Beach Superintendent Jerry Davis told more than 80 members of the Tri-Cities Coordinating Council at a Friday luncheon at the Kiwanis Hall in Hermosa. "When my head hits my pillow at night that has been my last thought, ‘Not on my watch.’"
Most of Friday’s discussion focused on the area’s two high schools, Redondo Union and Mira Costa in Manhattan. Nationwide, incidents of serious violence have occurred primarily in high schools.
Redondo Superintendent Bill Nunan said he goes by the motto "Prepare for the worst and hope for the best."
"We’re in really, really difficult times as you know. Fortunately we have not had any serious incidents at our campus," he said, knocking wood on the podium before him.
Educators have taken sweeping steps to prevent school violence. They have worked with law enforcement to update emergency response plans, hold SWAT exercises, and provide authorities with campus schematics and keys to the gates and doors. The police and school security presence has been beefed up significantly on some campuses.
"There has probably been about a 30 percent increase in security since Columbine," Davis said.
He said special emergency telephone lines have been set up to relay information to educators and law enforcement authorities.
"There’s a red phone on my desk and a red phone on the assistant superintendent’s desk," Davis said. "We have not had any calls except those that we made to test out the system."
Both Davis and Nunan said visitors are stopped and asked about their presence on campus. Even recently hired school staff and former board members have been asked to explain themselves.
"We stop, and check I.D.’s," Nunan said.
Educators also have redoubled efforts to identify and help students who are struggling academically or emotionally.
Despite the efforts of educators, the safety of a campus must stem from the students themselves, Nunan said. He touted his district’s "Character Counts" program that teaches ethics.
"If students have good character they don’t get involved in this stuff. They don’t make threats, they don’t start rumors…It’s right there -- just a shade under reading, writing and arithmetic — character," Nunan said.
"That’s the only way to really affect change," he said.
Nunan also touched on a district program in which third through fifth graders get lessons in conflict resolution, and some students are selected for a six-hour training in peer mediation.
The superintendents stressed communication among students, parents and educators. Students must be taught that reporting a serious situation is not the same as tattling on a peer, Nunan said.
"The most difficult thing we have to deal with is the teenage code of silence they throw over every adult," Nunan said.
He also touched on what educators call the "no humor zones" that schools have become in response to violent threats.
"In the old days students would get into an argument and say ‘I’ll kill ya.’ There’s a totally different context now," Nunan said. "…Now you can go to jail for making threats, it’s a felony. Believe me we don’t want that, but if you do these things you’ll pay the price."
Educators are trying to stop students from spreading rumors of violence or potential violence as well. Nunan said the internet is fertile ground for rumors spread anonymously.
"Some of the most difficult problems, believe it or not, come from parents starting rumors," he said.
News organizations also must be responsible, Nunan said.
"The news media is making hay of all this. They are really accelerating all this. There are tremendous copycat issues," he said.
Hermosa Superintendent Robert "Duffy" Clark said the smaller scale of his K-8 district, and the lack of a high school, takes much of the pressure off the question of serious violence. Bullying is a bigger issue during middle school years, he said.
Nevertheless, Hermosa revised its intruder-on-campus policy following a school shooting earlier this year in Santee, Calif., that left two dead and 13 wounded, Clark said.
During a question-and-answer session Kay Finer, executive director of the Community Helpline, said teens in crisis or need can call the Teen Helpline at 541-2525, or toll free at (877) 541-2525. ER