Violence in Schools, Remembering Columbine

It is hard to believe that a decade has gone by since the shooting at Columbine that woke people up to the reality of violence in schools. Sadly, time makes people forget. Until another incident hits the headlines like the Virginia Tech shooting, and then we're awake again. In an article in Education Week, Debra Viadero reflects on the Columbine shooting and highlights lessons that can still be learned from the tragedy. One of her main points is that teens having problems is a reality in school. There are differences that need to be taken into account, and students who need attention. Mr. Langman, a teacher at Columbine, quotes in the article, “If you get stuck thinking that there’s a certain kind of kid that we can identify, then we’re going to be missing kids who are potential dangers.”
As educators, we need to be aware of all of our students and their differences. When they feel neglected, they act out, and that is when trouble happens.
I remember watching a video in one of my classes last year about a kid who shot people at school. The video included interviews with his parents and older sister. They were oblivious to the behaviors that he was demonstrating before the shooting, and obviously did nothing about it. Just because you think that a tendency of a child is "just the way they are", doesn't mean you shouldn't address it. Parents and teachers need to work together to address these issues.

Viadero, Debra. "Lessons Sifted From Tragedy at Columbine". Education Week. April 7, 2009.