It was really interesting to hear Rob Merritt's perspective on the Columbine tragedy at his visit on January 25, especially because he really had the inside track, having interviewed and met so many people who were there or affected. The name of the book he co-wrote with former Columbine student Brooks Brown,
No Easy Answers is such an appropriate title, because it is so difficult to come up with that factor that could have made the difference in preventing this horrible event.
I really came away with the sense that the strongest means of prevention is human connection...between students themselves, and especially between students and caring adults who are willing to stand up for young people who aren't be treated fairly, as well as connect with kids who are having trouble dealing with intense feelings, whether rage, depression, etc.
So many times, instead, as Rob pointed out, there are "knee jerk" reactions in dealing with prevention where students are treated as "potential shooters" and treated in a very punitive way, that often marginalizes a student who already feels on the fringes in the first place. If we looked at these "red flag" type behaviors with more common sense and compassion, instead of hysteria, maybe we could really make a difference in those kids' lives, as well as prevent rage from growing to this extreme point.
For people who are still looking for answers (and actually many questions, as well) about the whole issue of school violence, I would highly recommend the book Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser, which is a fictional composite that takes factual elements from several real-life school shootings to create a story that examines a lot of the contributing factors. Also, Big Mouth & Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates is a great novel that examines the fall-out that many students have had to deal with in our country, based on these aforementioned "knee-jerk" reactions. The main character, Matt, makes a joking comment in the cafeteria which is then maliciously reported out of context and he is plunged into this world of being viewed with suspicion and an outright threat.
A couple of other titles that deal with this issue are The Brimstone Journals by Ron Koertge, The Taking of Room 114 and Who Killed Mr. Chippendale (both told in verse) by Mel Glenn, Rachel's Tears (a nonfiction title about Rachel Scott who was killed in the Columbine massacre) and Making Up Megaboy Virginia Walter.
I would also highly recommend America, a novel by E.R. Frank, an excellent author (who is a social worker in her day job), called America. She tells the story of Amercia, a 15 year old boy who has had a life that leaves him full of rage and pushing people away and the people who reach out to him anyway. We've all seen those people who are so hostile and seem like they hate everybody, but once you get a chance to see what it going on inside this guy's head...the pain he is dealing with, you'll never quite see that kind of behavior the same way.
