Has Virginia Tech Changed the Way We Approach School Safety?

When we send our children to school, we assume that they will be protected and safe during the time they are there. While this was certainly true at one time, our changing world has made safe-havens such as schools no less vulnerable than any other public place. Indeed, the tragic events that took place last month at Virginia Tech underscores just how vulnerable we, and our children, are to the whims of anyone intent on inflicting harm.

After the tragedy at Columbine High School in 1999 and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, many schools voluntarily instituted so-called lockdown procedures. This step was taken to help insulate the schools, and their students, from perceived or real threats of violence. In the years since these horrific tragedies, we thankfully have been largely spared from any wide-scale terrorism and in the process, have become a little less focused on security. Virginia Tech serves as a vivid reminder of how dangerous it is to let our guard down for even a moment.

And so, as the focus shifts back toward the subject of school safety, it is with an ultra-modern twist: technology. As we have learned in the days following the Virginia Tech tragedy, the widespread use of technology such as Email, Instant Messaging and Text Messaging can be a helpful tool in keeping students out of harm’s way.

A Solution for Colleges and Universities

Until very recently, many colleges and universities used email as the primary means of quickly getting information out to staff and students. It didn’t take long, however, for the shortcomings associated with this method to become obvious, especially this one: email notification only works if the recipients of these notices actually logs into their email account. It didn’t take long for it to become clear that a different tool was needed.

Enter the cell phone.

It is no secret that cell phones are an integral part of virtually every college student’s life. Indeed, there are many who would likely rate their cell phone as being even more important than their text books or class syllabi. As a result, it makes perfect sense that this is the tool that should be used to reach as many students as possible in the shortest amount of time.

One company recognized this need and in 2004, developed the e2Campusservice which is a web-based tool that gives school administrators the ability to quickly and easily send text-message alerts to students and faculty.

While this is still a relatively new technology, it seems certain that in the wake of Virginia Tech, more and more schools will be signing up for this and similar services.

The Impact on Elementary and Secondary Schools

Clearly, systems such as e2Campus aren’t built for the elementary and secondary school environments. Remember, the subject of cell phones in schools has been heavily debated for the last several years and at this point, many schools have policies in place that prohibit students from carrying cell phones in school. Additionally, and perhaps more to the point, elementary and secondary schools tend to be more self-contained than college campuses making it infinitely easier to get the word out.

But, as Columbine reminds us, merely “getting the word out” often isn’t enough.

Since Columbine and 9/11, school administrators have continued to look for the best ways to ensure the safety of the students in their care. Formal procedures such as lockdown drills have become a regular (if unfortunate) part of many schools’ emergency procedures. And recently, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Criminal Justice Services has announced that they will undertake a High School Safety Survey that is designed to identify the student safety, discipline and support practices that are needed to best maintain a safe and orderly school environment. You can read more about this survey here. It is reasonably certain that other states will be following in similar fashion in the coming months.

Surveys aside, school administrators are eventually going to be faced with a difficult dilemma regarding the use of cell phones during the school day. Consider this example in which rumors of a planned “copycat” incident were circulated via cell phone text messaging among students of a Memphis high school. Advocates of cell phones in schools will use this story as evidence of how a tragedy was avoided while the detractors will argue that the phones are used to spread unsubstantiated rumors with the hope of getting a day off from classes.

In either case, it is clear that the subject of cell phones as they relate to keeping our kids safe while in school is one that needs to be continually examined and evaluated.

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