Recent Violent Outburst in Schools: Is School No Longer Safe?

Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes in Life

Ever since February 2008, I find myself constantly thinking about schools in America today, and the traumatic events that occur. Recently, according to the Chicago Tribune, more than 20 Chicago Public School students have died by gun related deaths. Can you exactly pinpoint the predicament of what is causing our generation of adolescents to depart this life at young ages? Some may say we have let the gang-affiliated streets conquer our young black men and subsist calmly amongst our communities. I would have to say I partly agree the same as others. But what about those silent ticking-time bombs that exist in our classes? It could be that reticent boy that never says anything, the one that studies hard and tends to be mindful of himself. Or it could be someone who revealed their sexual attraction to the same sex, is under suspicion for being “that fag.” Or even that girl who dresses a little provocative and just recently transferred over who, rumor has it, is considered to be a “bust-down.” Please be aware that, you don’t have to resemble the appearance of a thug (baggy pants below the waist, long white T-shirt, do-rag, etc…) to pull a trigger, because there is no single profile for a potential mass killer, young or old. That’s why it’s so important for schools and communities to have a fair, coherent, and even method of estimating and responding to school violence.


I attended Fredrick Douglas High School in the Austin Community, and it was not what I thought it would be. As a result, I began to decline academically, due to the environment in which I was forced to subsist. As much as I liked school (because it gave me a chance to show off my intellectual side), I hated Douglas because there were fights between students every day, teachers in disputes with the students, and gang violence; it just made the whole educational experience horrible. There were times when I would skip class and study in the hallway with the security guard in order to get my work done (or I would go at the local library to study) because the conditions in the classroom were just terrible. And what makes it so awful is my peers lashing out in a detrimental way. Some people would just come to school to take up space, receive a free lunch, and make the situation terrible for other students by ridiculing them for no apparent reason. When you profile people in belittling ways, it causes what I like to call an “emotional diminish” (when you lose a sense of yourself, and you are left with the feeling of insecurity, discomfiture, and other emotions of seclusion). Whether schools add metal detectors, security guards, or uniforms to stem the violence, in all likelihood, these problems will continue amid the chaos of the school day because of what was stated above. And people can absorb these negative sensations for only so long, until they literally snap in respond to the emotional exploitation. I do not want to condone the fact that the victims feel as if they need to demolish all bullies (usually ending innocent lives as well); they were completely culpable for their acts of sadistic rampage. But, you have to be vigilant when bullying occurs. Where there’s a cause, there’s going to be an effect.


Whenever I have time to watch the local news stations, all I see are people in my community dying. And the worse part of it is they’re at school! I get deeply sadden by these inexplicable violent events and mourn the loss of so many innocent lives. So, in the end, how can schools be safe again? Well, I have to say that vigilance, respectfulness, and common sense can go a long way in preventing these appalling crimes. First, we should be attentive on how we (the teens) treat one another, and make sure that we do unto others as we would want done unto us. Second, this note goes to those who are being mistreated: although it may seem like everyone is victimizing you and no one can help you through the dark period in your life, realize that you can find more productive ways to release your inner frustration and anger, possibly through therapeutic help. To the parents and the administrative team: realize that students and/or children are the most powerful allies, talk to us about what’s going on and take more of a proactive role in their schooling life. We do care about our communities and want to make the schools and neighborhood better places, despite the stereotypes that we as youth are disengaged, self-centered, and apathetic. Many people feel as if they should not have to pay an extra buck for something that will never change. But, you should never say “never.” I know it’s going to take up some money, but it’s for a good cause: to invest in the future for safety. Bottom line, we all play a part, and if each one of us doesn’t take the time to improve what’s happening to the school within our society, then the key ultimatum will also be the biggest cost of all: another life lost.