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What happened to the days when students threatened to meet another student after school, behind the school, and duke it out (without weapons)?
As we use tech to make the learning experience sophisticated, we have yet to think it would do the same to the evolving world of school threats.
Threats are increasing, both online and in the physical world, as school shootings, ransomware attacks, and more confront students and educators.
In an age of increasing physical and online attacks against children and their schools, the efforts of educators and other school professionals are crucial to providing a safe environment where kids can learn.
GUNFIRE
The recent Georgia attack was one of more than 1,300 episodes of gunfire on school grounds that have occurred since the horrific attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School nearly 12 years ago. Those attacks combined have resulted in at least 436 deaths and 936 injuries, he said.
“Kids already face many emotions and challenges at the start of any school year,” said Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of Homeland Security. “It is a tragedy that at too many schools across the country, these last few weeks have also been defined by terror in the face of an attack.”
Meanwhile, Mayorkas said schools are also dealing with online threats. A cybercrime group claiming responsibility for a recent ransomware attack against a Rhode Island school district says it stole 200 gigabytes of sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, medical records, and counseling reports. The group threatens to post the data online if a $1 million ransom isn’t paid.
Schools across the U.S. have been rocked by a spate of false threats of violence in recent weeks, forcing them to evacuate or temporarily close.
SHOOTERS
Threats of bombs, shooters, and other dangers disrupt learning and stir community-wide anxiety about school safety. Responding to them can also be expensive and time-consuming for local governments and law enforcement. A single threat can cost between $25,000 and $40,000 to investigate.
Everyone wants to know if there is a history of aggression. It’s the go-to question. There can usually be a history of torturing or abusing animals, spending a lot of time alone, being left out of groups, bullying, or FOMO (fear of missing out). Sometimes, it is a cry for help or attention or thinking it is a joke.
School psychologists say student threats have evolved with social media and gun violence. Mental health professionals are busier than ever performing health assessments with fewer professionals to help.
Threats are everywhere—on social media, in hallways, in classrooms, and in bathrooms. In essence, anywhere there are two students, there are threats.
Teachers read homework, journal notes, and graffiti on walls. Since we encourage our kids to “see (hear) something, say something,” the sky’s the limit.
THREATS
Mental health professionals are on the front lines of preventing violence in schools. It takes a lot of time and must be intentional, as they cannot leave any stone unturned. And then, they must figure out the difference between posing a threat and making a threat all in a split second. False threats lead to increased anxiety all around and are not much different than actual campus violence.
Whether the threats are credible or not, they all must be investigated. A few weeks back, schools in Tennessee, South Carolina, Minnesota, Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Texas, Michigan, and Maryland received threats in a single afternoon.
Schools across Colorado and Texas increased police presence or canceled classes earlier this month because of social media threats.
How are you supposed to stay on top of the behavior or red flags when there is an average of one school psychologist for 500 students?
EATING PETS
In Springfield, Ohio, schools closed over hoax bomb threats following the GOP presidential ticket’s amplification of a debunked conspiracy theory that immigrants in the city were eating pets.
In Volusia County, Florida, the sheriff’s office received 54 tips about potential threats in a single night this month. All the threats turned out to be false.
The big picture: Even though most threats are false alarms, ignoring them isn’t an option for law enforcement.
Time: Investigations into anonymous school threats can take one to four years. The probe can then be followed by legal prosecution, which adds additional costs for a school district or city.
A person can also easily access websites to create and disguise fake threats, making it difficult to trace the perpetrator.
By the numbers: According to the U.S. Bomb Data Center, education facilities are the most targeted sites for bomb threats. In 2023, schools and universities received over 1,123 threats.
If we don’t take more preventative care, the threats will escalate, and I can promise that.
This column is by Ritchie Lucas, Founder/CEO of the non-profit The Student Success Project. He can be reached by email at ritchie@studentsuccessproject.org and on Facebook as The Student Success Project.
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