Experts Agree: Bullying Prevention a Key Part of Preventing Gun Violence In Schools

On February 28, 2018, in response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, a group of experts on school violence formed the Interdisciplinary Group on Preventing School and Community Violence and published an 8-point “call-to-action” to prevent school and community violence. Two of the eight points were directly related to proactive bullying prevention:

“A national requirement for all schools to assess school climate and maintain physically and emotionally safe conditions and positive school environments that protect all students and adults from bullying, discrimination, harassment, and assault.”

“Reform of school discipline to reduce exclusionary practices and foster positive social, behavioral, emotional, and academic success for students.”

The full text of the call-to-action can be found here.

The CirclePoint team fully supports this call to action. Research shows that students who are bullied and rejected by peers are more likely to bring weapons to school. Schools that devote resources to improving the social climate and emotional well-being of their students and preventing bullying are lowering the risk of students bringing a weapon to school and possible tragedy. Schools that create an environment where students feel that they can trust adults when they need help are more likely to become aware of a student who needs help and intends to bring a weapon to school before an incident occurs.

We of course support the reform of school discipline practices, especially related to bullying. Our program strongly advocates for the elimination of punishment for bullying and instead to use constructive consequences and heightened monitoring to help aggressors change their behavior and to make bullying targets feel safe.