Real People: Preventing Student Violence

On top of the terrible loss of lives and innocence, one of the most tragic features of fatal school shootings is the knowledge that the rampage might have been prevented, as ignored warning signs suddenly seem all too clear in hindsight. Aiming to educate students and teachers in recognizing troubling behaviors and, most importantly, how to take action to prevent possible violence, this program in the Real People series presents a four-part fictional scenario in which a teenager plans and carries out a deadly school attack. Avoiding both melodrama and unrealistic characterizations, the well-acted, convincing dramatizations are analyzed by a school psychologist who points out warning signs and suggests appropriate responses. A real class discussion, in which students talk about problems and strategies and their own roles in the prevention of violence, book-ends the fictional "situation" and serves as an excellent model for the dialogue sure to follow a class viewing of this video. The program concludes with the story of a real-life victim of a school shooting, illustrating issues of advocacy and activism. Neither preachy nor alarmist, this practical assessment of a current topic is highly recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)