Yet, real and imagined violence is spreading through schools nationwide in the wake of Littleton. Threats have been posted on the Internet, or called into the school. School officials are not dismissing the possibility that any of these threats may be real. In some cases, schools have closed and police officers are roving school corridors. But since Littleton, there has been a ripple effect.
Schools everywhere are in a panic mode, receiving bomb threats, threats of terrorist attacks.
Nobody can ignore those things. Whether or not schools are safe is not the issue. It's the perception of safety at this point that matters. While some schools rely on conflict-resolution strategies and funding of counselors to handle troubled students, others resort to a strong law enforcement presence on school campuses. Mandatory metal detectors, clothing restrictions and stronger relations with local police are several strategies in use in schools nationwide.