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Editorial: Hard lesson on violence
Renew focus on school safety
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More from OpinionParents entrust their children to school every day, assuming they will be safe. Statistically, they are. But Tuesday morning, that sense of security was shattered when a 15-year-old boy was shot and seriously injured at E.O. Green Junior High School in the Hueneme School District in Oxnard.
The suspected 15-year-old shooter was arrested.
This incident demonstrates that, even with safety plans required at all California schools since 1998, violence can occur on any campus anywhere — even in Ventura County. Other gun incidents at schools across the country — including one at Hueneme High School in 2001 — have raised the consciousness of law enforcement, school districts and parents about the importance of making their schools as safe as possible.
In that area, E.O. Green, with 1,150 students, is no exception. Students wear uniforms, the school has gates and employs counselors and psychologists.
All that, however, did not prevent a student from carrying a gun onto the E.O. Green campus and shooting a classmate during a first-period English class.
It appears, from initial reports, that the school's emergency plan worked in that 911 was called, the school was locked down, and a district crisis team was organized to assist students, staff and parents.
Since the school was in lockdown, it took awhile for students to be released to those authorized to pick them up — a reminder for parents to make sure their contact information with the school office is up-to-date.
No doubt this latest incident will refocus county educators' and parents' attention on school safety. Fortunately, there are excellent resources at the county and state level to assist them, many online. In the wake of Tuesday's shooting, The Star hopes the issue of school safety is addressed at the next school board meeting of every school district in Ventura County, if for no other reason than to reassure parents and students that it is a top priority of staff and administrators.
"School safety is one of those things you can never take for granted," said Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Charles Weis, 10 years ago at a local Safe Schools Summit his office convened.
And, Ventura County school administrators haven't. That doesn't mean another violent act won't happen at any school. It does mean that we, as a community, must redouble our efforts to prevent it.
Today, students are back at E.O. Green School, where they resume their studies with help from school staff and a district crisis team. They will learn English, math, history and one searing life lesson — about violence and hate — we wish they didn't have to learn so young.
Posted by sslocal on February 13, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You guys preach to ALLWHITE about hating yet you exhibit the same attitude towards him. Where is the tolerance that the left preaches about all the time? Or does that just apply to people that agree with you?
Posted by Tom_Johnston on February 13, 2008 at 6:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A hard lesson?
That would imply that we actually learn from these sort of things...and I don't think we do.
sure, tighter security, maybe metal detectors,after the fact crisis team, be sure your kid's emergency numbers are good....but what about easy access to an easily concealed firearms? Or at least, irresponsible gun owners?
Time and again, inappropriate use of what really amounts to a tool, albeit one with deadly potential, allows a tragedy like this to occur. It seems this gun was too easy to get to.
Good responsible firearm owners don't get in the spotlight like this, just the others, and something needs to be done about that.
The media (sorry Star, that's you too!) sucks up the story, sells a few more papers, gets Googled a few more times...and have you considered that you may well be inspiring the next shooter?
I know it's a story, but I do believe there is a accountablity as strong as that you might attach to irresponsible gun ownership.
some of the previous posters are pretty insensitive to the topic..blowing off the killing of a child, like its..."whatever..business as usual!" Defending that sort of attitude is perhaps even more lame.
...and no SSlocal...I don't have to preach to you or ALLWHITE...your comments pretty much speak for themselves.
Posted by sslocal on February 13, 2008 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
.blowing off the killing of a child, like its..."whatever..business as usual!"
No, never that Tom. I knew this kid as he has been in my home many times. For the most part it was his older brother that visited us, but sometimes he would bring his kid brother. This shooting really tore me up because I knew him. Perhaps this is why I seem so insensitive to it. Then again perhaps it is the constant harping of how the right behaves. Lumping us altogether into one easily insulted group. This is just as wrong as callus comments about the shooter.
Posted by Tom_Johnston on February 14, 2008 at 5:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My apologies ss, the causal nature of a ALLs remark that I was referencing.
Defending that sort of attitude is questionable to my way of thinking, it's not about "hate". Some points of view, just aren't defensible.
As I said, the comments speak for themselves.
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