How to talk to teens about school
violence
Have
you stared slack-jawed at the television screen as yet another school shooting
incident plays out before you? Violence in schools and school shootings both in
the U.S. and around the world seem to be increasing in frequency. Over the
course of one week in February 2008, there were four shootings in the U.S.
Understandably,
many students and parents are scared about what can occur at schools - places
that are supposed to be safe havens for learning. This makes talking about
these events even more important.
One
of the best things parents can do for their adolescent children in the wake of
a school shooting is to talk honestly about what occurred and how you feel
about the situation. Then it’s your turn to sit back and listen to what your
child has to say. Creating an open forum for discussion can go a long way
toward making the family feel better by getting questions answered and learning
what everyone would do if the situation occurred too close to home.
Open
up the discussion to how your child feels at school, and what his or her
thoughts are about the propensity for violence to occur there. Does he or she
feel safe? Have there been any incidents to worry about? By nature, teens are
often reluctant to open up about their emotions. But by simply making your
availability to listen known, you may be surprised by a candid conversation
with your son or daughter.
It’s important to stress to your child that if he or she
knows anyone who repeatedly threatens violence at school to speak up about it.
In these situations maintaining the violent student’s privacy should not be
paramount. An adult or authority figure should be notified to potentially head
off a life-or-death situation. By having a voice, your son or daughter is
actually helping troubled kids get necessary assistance.