Every Parents Nightmare

By Derek Randel

We like to believe that schools are a safe place but this is not always true. It is amazing that 282,000 students are physically attacked each month in secondary schools and every month 950,000 weapons are brought to school. Why do these children bring weapons into school? The two main reasons are for protection and to show off. It is so sad that so many children feel they need a weapon for protection? There are warning signs.

The U.S. Department of Education has issued some early warning signs of violence.  Watch for the following:

1. Social withdrawal
2. Excessive feelings of isolation or being alone
3. Excessive feeling of rejection, depression
4. Being a victim of violence
   
5. Feelings of being picked on and persecuted
   
6. Low school interest and poor academic performance, expression of violence in writings and drawings
   
7. Uncontrolled anger
   
8. Patterns of impulsive and chronic hitting, intimidating, and bullying behaviors.
   
9. History of discipline problems
   
10. History of violent and aggressive behavior
    
11. Intolerance for differences and prejudicial behavior
    
12. Drug or alcohol use
    
13. Affiliation with gangs
    
14. Inappropriate access to, possession of, and use of firearms
    
15. Serious threats of violence towards anyone
    
16. Intense anger
    
17. Low self-esteem
    
18. History of abuse or neglect
    
19. Suicidal thoughts or actions
    
20. Preoccupied with violent or morbid fantasies
    
21. Cruelty to animals
    
22. Family problems

Imminent warning signs of violence

1. Serious physical fighting with peers or family members
   
2. Severe destruction of property
   
3. Severe rage for seemingly minor reasons
   
4. Detailed threats of lethal violence
   
5. Possession and/or use of firearms and other weapons
   
6. Other self-injurious behaviors or threats of suicide

If you have any guns in the house I would immediately make sure each one has trigger locks installed. Also limit the amount of television that can be watched and the amount of playing time for video games. No television show or video game should be watched/played that has excessive violence. Most kids can handle these but there are some who have a hard time figuring out the difference between real life and fantasy.

Derek is a parent coach and has customized programs for corporations, schools, and parent groups for putting the fun back into parenting and protecting your child/student from bullying. He can be reached at Parent Smart from the Heart, 1-866-89-SMART or 847-853-4308, or info@randelconsulting.com