Are Schools Safe?

The Justice Policy Center has stated that "Rather than providing a context, the media's linking of school shootings as a "trend" has tended to exacerbate people's fears about the safety of their children and youth in schools."

The National School Safety Center states that "The constant media attention can easily cause some to believe that schools are entirely unsafe, while a lack of access to information may have some people clueless as to what goes on in schools in this day and age."

When people think of schools and violence, what immediately comes to mind are the tragedies that happened in Littleton, Colorado at Columbine High School, the Virginia Tech Massacre, and the Westside Middle School shooting in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  However, with the exception of the Virgina Tech shooting, the major incidents happened over 10 years ago.  Are schools now safe?

Statistics state that 8 children die every day from gunfire in the United States.  11 children die every 2 days from family violence, child abuse, or neglect at the hands of their parents or guardians.  90% of homicide victims under the age of 12 are killed by adults and not other children. 

The National Center of Vital Statistics reports that "In recent years, homicides of school-age children were more than 200 times more likely to happen off campus."

In 1993 and 1994, 42 homicides in U.S.schools were reported.  In 1999, 25 were reported.  In both 2008 and 2009, 1 homicide was reported each year.