Mississippi School Violence Initiative

School violence has become a modern parent's worst nightmare and with the recent shootings in Colorado and Pennsylvania, it seems that safety at school isn't guaranteed. This week Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood launched a new School Violence Prevention Initiative. The program kicked off Mississippi's Safe Schools Week and focuses on providing education and information "to help teachers identify the warning signs of a potentially violent child and to help school administrators establish a protocol for students and teachers to report these signs before a violent act occurs" Mississippi Public Broadcasting's Brian Pace provides this report. You can also find out more information on the effort by visiting the Attorney General's website.

Do you feel that this is a good start or is not enough being done to keep our schools safe? What do you think the root problems are and how can we best solve them? Sound off here.

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Caryn D.
American Public Media Online

Comments: 8

Donald H. Oct 19, 2006, 9:41am EDT

Safety anywhere is not guaranteed...! Such aguarantee is falcious...we cannot safegurad ourselves against any & every possibiity of harm. What we can do is be aware & act accordingly.

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Caryn D. Oct 19, 2006, 9:51am EDT

True Donald, but I think there is a whole lot of room for improvement. Have you heard anything in your area about schools being proactive about these concerns? Thanks for your comment!

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Debra L. Oct 19, 2006, 10:06am EDT

Caryn, it is a start. The Amish school shooting has shocked those of us that live in rural areas. Prior to this shooting, these incidents were passed off as "big city problems" but now it is evident that school violence may happen in any community. Our school system has a closed campus policy. Anyone coming on to school grounds must enter through a central office, the person must show ID and their purpose for being there is evaluated. The children too are drilled. Awareness is our first, and best, defense.

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Caryn D. Oct 19, 2006, 10:12am EDT

Hi Debra -- thanks for your comment. That's a good point about the rural vs. city mentality that probably was prevalent before the Amish school tragedy. I am originally from a very rural area (that coincidentally also has an Amish population), and I think it is easy to fool yourself into thinking that it only happens "elsewhere". I think a lot of rural schools are also instituting policies like you mentioned and perhaps they may have an easier time of implementing some measures due to their smaller population and in many cases the fact that most of the residents are more likely to know their neighbors, etc. Every bit helps.

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Leah Christensen Oct 19, 2006, 2:26pm EDT

Yes there is room for improvement, but we should also remain alert.

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Ms. H. Nov 2, 2006, 11:21pm EST

This is a good start but ther is more to be done. I relate to these children. They are always is the spot light of doing wrong and the attention is focuse on the "good" kids. They want attention but found other ways of dealing with family problems, being alone, poor grades (possibly because of their illiteracy), and not having someone to just listen and find the talents to be recognized. These kids need more availbe activities and things their family can afford. Some have transportation to available programs. I was one of those kids when i was younger but i was surrounded by teachers, family and friends who saw the gifts that i have. We sometimes forget we were the volnureable yound child once. Even as adults, that feeling of wanting that recognition still exsists. So I listen and talk with kids we no one else will listen and ask the RIGHT questions.

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Mississippi School Violence Initiative

Comments: 8

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