Can we prevent school shootings? With Dewey Cornell, PhD
Jan 22, 2025
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Dewey Cornell, PhD, a forensic clinical psychologist and expert in school violence prevention, shares valuable insights on how to improve safety in schools. He emphasizes the need for effective threat assessment protocols and collaboration among students, teachers, and law enforcement. Cornell discusses the rarity of school shootings compared to other violence in public spaces and advocates for supportive, non-punitive approaches to handling threats. He also highlights the importance of understanding student behavior and the role of technology in fostering a safe school environment.
Schools are statistically safer environments than other public spaces, highlighting the need for a balanced perspective on school violence concerns.
Implementing Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines fosters collaboration between educational staff and law enforcement, focusing on support rather than punishment.
Deep dives
The Frequency of Gun Violence in Schools
Gun violence in U.S. schools is statistically less frequent than in many other settings, which can provide some reassurance to students and parents. Despite the tragic nature of school shootings, the average school is unlikely to experience such an event, with incidents calculated at around once every 6,000 years. Furthermore, the data shows that there is more gun violence in everyday environments like parks, stores, and homes than in educational institutions. As such, while the concern surrounding school safety is valid, it is essential to recognize that schools can remain relatively safe environments.
Effectiveness of Threat Assessment Guidelines
The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines are designed to help schools manage potential threats effectively and prevent unnecessary actions such as expulsions. This model emphasizes a systematic approach to assess threats by forming a multidisciplinary team that gathers information from various sources, involving school counselors, administrators, and law enforcement if necessary. By using a calibrated response based on the seriousness of the case, it aims to resolve issues in a way that supports students rather than punish them unnecessarily. Research indicates that this method has been successful in addressing threats while keeping most students in school.
Role of Law Enforcement in Schools
School resource officers can play a crucial part in ensuring safety by being integrated into the threat assessment process rather than enforcing strict discipline. Properly trained officers who understand the school's environment can have a positive impact, as evidenced by low arrest rates of students, fostering a sense of safety among the student body. The key is to establish a collaborative relationship where law enforcement supports the educational staff in maintaining a safe atmosphere, rather than acting solely as enforcers. Adequatrate training and a clear role for law enforcement within schools are essential to avoid negative consequences and overreactions.
Balancing Security Measures with Student Support
While measures for school security, such as active shooter drills, have become common, they can sometimes cause more harm than good without the right approach. Reenactments that involve simulations can create trauma among students, leading to a detrimental effect on their psychological well-being. Instead, schools should prioritize employing more counselors and mental health support resources to address underlying issues that may lead to violence, rather than merely focusing on physical security. A balanced approach that integrates supportive services with appropriate security measures can foster a safer and more trusting school environment.
From Columbine to Sandy Hook to Uvalde, the list of schools and communities devastated by gun violence grows every year. Dewey Cornell, PhD, an expert in school violence prevention, discusses how schools can respond when faced with a potential threat, and how students, teachers, administrators and law enforcement can work together to keep schools safe.