4/5/05
Communities that care will identify kids at risk
Another shooting at a high school in Minnesota and whatís to be learned.
The sad fact is apparently a student who wants to shoot students in a school can do so, no matter what the precautions.
This is due in part to the belief by the shooter that no one will think he will do such a thing as shoot grandparents, guards, a teacher and five students. It is unthinkable.
There were warning signs in Jeff Weiseís behavior. Now, that the news media has obtained most of the facts, itís obvious kids knew, relatives knew and perhaps even school authorities knew he was potentially a school shooter.
How many more Red Lakes, Columbines and Cold Spring Riccoris do we need to experience before we act on school shooters before they happen?
One lesson we do know that if students suspect or hear of another student talking about shooting someone at school, they must report it to someone in authority.
Just a week before in Cambridge, Minnesota, that lesson was followed and a possible shooting at the high school there was averted. A student tipped off a teacher that a 14-year-old middle school student was planning to shoot another student.
That teacher went to the school safety officer, who together with another officer went to the boyís home and found a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun and a 25-round extended magazine loaded with 9mm ammunition under the boyís bed in his basement living area.
They found the boy hiding in an upstairs closet behind some clothes. Heís now at the Lino Lakes Detention Center, awaiting some action. Those who know the story are confident another shooting at a school was stopped.
The second lesson to be learned from Red Lake is that shooters feel bullied by other students. In all school shootings so far, the profile of the shooter includes bullying. Weise complained of being picked on, and, in fact, other students did pick on him because he was different.
Most Twin Cities area school districts have policies which have resulted in anti-bullying programs in schools.
One of the districts, Anoka-Hennepin, was the first to start anti-bullying program by first defining it and taking measures to prevent it. The data shows it can be reduced as evidenced by a survey that shows those students reported fewer bullying incidents than the national average.
So much is demanded of school districts to deal with problem children that it seems unfair to place another mandate on them, particularly one that is unfunded. Yet, to no oneís surprise there is proposed legislation to mandate anti-bullying programs in every Minnesota school district.
While such legislation, no doubt will reduce bullying over all, thereís no guarantee it will stop another confused kid from entering a school and shooting guards, kids and teachers. Donít blame the schools. Already, theyíve locked doors, installed more cameras, put in metal detectors, lectured students and trained teachers to lock their classroom doors.
The answers lie outside the school house, in the community and in the homes. No amount of legislation from the State Capitol can fix kids who feel lost, alone, bullied and unwanted.
A community that really cares will have a system to detect early kids at risk, work with them and their parents, provide wholesome places for them to go after school and guide them to become responsible adults. -- Don Heinzman
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