Myths about School Shootings

Parent Cafe
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<p>Myth No. 1. “He didn’t fit the profile.”</p>

<p>In fact, there is no profile. “There is no accurate or useful ‘profile’ of students who engaged in targeted school violence,” the researchers found…</p>

<p>“The demographic, personality, school history, and social characteristics of the attackers varied substantially,” the report said. Attackers were of all races and family situations, with academic achievement ranging from failing to excellent. </p>

<p>Most, but not all, have been male, though that fact alone doesn’t help an adult rule in or out someone as dangerous.</p>

<p>Myth No. 2. “He just snapped.”</p>

<p>Rarely were incidents of school violence sudden, impulsive acts. Attackers do not “just snap,” but progress from forming an idea, to planning an attack, to gathering weapons. This process can happen quickly, but sometimes the planning or gathering weapons are discoverable…</p>

<p>Myth No. 3. “No one knew.”…</p>

<p>Myth No. 4. “He hadn’t threatened anyone…”
<a href=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15111438/[/url]”>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15111438/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thanks–fascinating article & contrary to what popular media & hype are saying about school violence.</p>

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<p>I must have missed the story about the black kid who walked into his school with an assault weapon and opened fire at random. Can you link me to the story?</p>

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<p>In the past two weeks two of our local high schools have had handguns brought into school by students. Both guns were unloaded and brought to “scare” someone. Also both boys got these guns at home. So as of right now students are not allowed to carry purses, backpacks, jackets, etc. in halls. However, no schools in this area use metal detectors. Are those (metal detectors) common in other areas and do they really make a difference?</p>