Disrespectful interactions do not have to be the ordinary course of events at school and need to be systematically addressed by adults and students. If a couple of students are expressing concerns for safety at school, it is very likely that they represent the feelings of others. Further, when students express anger towards classmates, they may be at risk for harming themselves or others. We are beginning to take this seriously, but too slowly. This was unfortunately the case at both Littleton High and Santana High schools.
Students consistently cite caring teachers as a major factor in their perceptions of safe schools.
Caring teachers and other adults intervene in fights and other instances of bullying at school. They don't just walk by or watch. From Columbine, we learn that in failing to stop bullying we run the risk of extreme violence and retaliation. While the typical adolescent talks a lot about breaking away from families and adult supervision, when given a chance in private, many students report that schools need to be more closely monitored and supervised by adults in order to be safe places. Adolescents need and are requesting greater supervision than we have previously considered.