The actual likelihood of being involved in a mass shooting is exceedingly slight, as unlikely as being struck by lightning.2 However, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, a majority of students are afraid they, themselves, are going to be shot.3 Meanwhile, the marketplace for “school safety” products—bulletproof backpacks, security cameras, metal detectors, etc.—has grown into a $3 billion per year business despite little evidence that these measures significantly reduce shootings or minimize the loss of life.4 Further, research suggests that daily interactions with armed guards and other “policing” efforts may make students feel less safe.5
Asked about their experiences with regimens such as active shooter drills and lockdowns that are intended to make students and staff safer, members of the Center’s Teacher Advisory Council offered these thoughts about the effects on students:
“…the normalization of violence in learning environments has clearly had a profound impact on students…many, as reflected in the Pew [study], quietly or privately express great concern for the fearful unknown.”
“Students have come to feel that their voices don’t matter, and instead internalize their trauma, anger, and bitterness…as a teacher of history and civics, I’ve long felt that activating students’ voices is a weapon against the ignorance that plagues this country, and has set our political system out of balance.”
“They are scared and they are motivated. Many are fed up with the anxiety of the drill culture. Many of the teachers and students have turned to something more meaningful, relationship building. If the culture of the school is steered toward healthy relationships then the need for drills diminishes.”
What role can the humanities play in alleviating anxieties and possibly even helping make schools safe places? Historical and philosophical pedagogy, critical media literacy, and civics training can help students contextualize and thoughtfully explore the dynamics of violence in their schools and communities and consider how to effectively address them. Studies have shown that reading fiction builds empathy6 and forges deeper understanding of others7, and creative expression (writing, graphic and performing arts) allows students to grapple with complex ideas, fraught with emotion, and to feel that they are both seen and heard.
Notes
- A Brief History of School Violence in the United States, Annette Fuentes, an excerpt from her book, Lockdown High (2011) reprinted on the Weekend Reads blog, 3/23/18
- Have We Become Too Paranoid About Mass Shootings?, Jaclyn Schildkraut, The Conversation, 10/22/19
- A majority of U.S. teens fear a shooting could happen at their school, and most parents share their concern, Nikki Graf, FactTank, Pew Research Center, 4/18/18
- Keeping students safe is a growth industry struggling to fulfill its mission, John S. Carlson, The Conversation, 10/16/19
- The False Comfort of Securing Schools, Micere Keels, The New York Times, 9/6/18
- Does Reading Fiction Make Us Better People?, Claudia Hammond, BBC Future, 6/2/19
- Losing humanities in education is propelling a deficit of empathy, Carol Scheidenhelm, The Hill, 4/9/18
Find out how you can get informed, get involved, and take action on this and other issues.
Voices
What the experts are saying:
- Have We Become Too Paranoid About Mass Shootings?, Jaclyn Schildkraut, The Conversation, 10/22/19
- Higher Ed’s Role in Addressing School Violence, Kathleen McCartney, Inside Higher Ed, 5/9/18
- Gun Violence Puts Education Under Fire, Stifling Achievement, Kimberly Quick, commentary on The Century Foundation website, 1/8/16
- The False Comfort of Securing Schools, Micere Keels, The New York Times, 9/6/18
- The Difficult Discussions About Gun Violence That We Can’t Afford Not To Have, Jennifer Rich, The Hechinger Report, 5/9/19
- Why Security Measures Won’t Stop School Shootings, Bryan Warnick, Benjamin A. Johnson, and Sam Rocha, The Conversation, 2/14/18
Research & Resources
Materials for further exploration:
- #Unload
- A Brief History of School Violence in the United States, Annette Fuentes, an excerpt from her book, Lockdown High (2011) reprinted on the Weekend Reads blog, 3/23/18.
- Lockdown Drills: An American Quirk, Out of Control, Sergio Peçanha, The Washington Post, 10/11/19
- School Security in the Post-Columbine Era: Trends, Consequences, and Future Directions, Sanna King and Nicole L. Bracy, Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 4/15/19 (subscription required)
- Understanding and Preventing Violence Directed Against Teachers, Dorothy Espelage, Eric M. Anderman, Veda Evanell Brown, Abraham Jones, Kathleen Lynne Lane, Susan D. McMahon, Linda A. Reddy, Cecil R. Reynolds, American Psychologist, vol 68, no. 2, February–March, 2013 (PDF)
- Violence in Schools and Communities, Youth Violence Project, Curry School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia
- SchoolShooters.info