School systems have changed drastically throughout the United States. One of the main causes for this change is due to the tragedy that took place on April 20, 1999. Columbine High School students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, murdered 12 students and one teacher and injured 21 additional students. The highly planned and intricate attack involved a fire bomb to divert firefighters, propane tanks converted to bombs placed in the cafeteria, 99 explosive devices, and car bombs. The pair eventually took their own lives once they completed their task. (Cullen 18). The Columbine High School massacre will forever be remembered as the worst school shooting in U.S. history, and one that has remarkably changed our nation’s school system.
A few specific …show more content…
“Zero Tolerance” Policies: After the Columbine massacre, schools truly put their foot down on student threats and bullying by enforcing zero-tolerance policies that punish any violation of a rule, regardless of ignorance, accidents or other circumstances. Most schools have adopted zero-tolerance policies for possession or use of weapons and drugs. Students, staff, parents and other school visitors who are in possession of a weapon or drug are punished. Zero-tolerance has also lead to many criticisms and overreactions by school districts, such as student expulsions for bringing nail clippers or a knife to cut a cake to …show more content…
Lenient Cell Phone Rules: In an effort to ease parents’ worries and let them know their children’s whereabouts, most schools have allowed students to have cell phones on campus. In case of an emergency, such as Columbine, students now have a way to communicate with their parents or law enforcement by using their cell phones. Before the Columbine shooting, few schools allowed cell phones to be carried on campus or used on school grounds, but this decision has also caused a great deal of disruptions in the classroom and has even given way to bomb threats and other school attacks. (“How Schools Have Changed Since Columbine.” Criminal Justice Degrees Guide.) The Columbine massacre left a mark on America and the families affected. Since then, the school systems have changed drastically throughout the United States. School shootings have become a recurring problem, not only nationally, but worldwide and had long lasting effects on people. It is up to the nation as a whole to prevent school violence by using intensified school security, increased communication, “zero tolerance” policies, increased awareness, limited student privileges, emergency crisis planning, bullying and violence prevention programs, better mental health counseling, and lenient cell phone
A few specific …show more content…
“Zero Tolerance” Policies: After the Columbine massacre, schools truly put their foot down on student threats and bullying by enforcing zero-tolerance policies that punish any violation of a rule, regardless of ignorance, accidents or other circumstances. Most schools have adopted zero-tolerance policies for possession or use of weapons and drugs. Students, staff, parents and other school visitors who are in possession of a weapon or drug are punished. Zero-tolerance has also lead to many criticisms and overreactions by school districts, such as student expulsions for bringing nail clippers or a knife to cut a cake to …show more content…
Lenient Cell Phone Rules: In an effort to ease parents’ worries and let them know their children’s whereabouts, most schools have allowed students to have cell phones on campus. In case of an emergency, such as Columbine, students now have a way to communicate with their parents or law enforcement by using their cell phones. Before the Columbine shooting, few schools allowed cell phones to be carried on campus or used on school grounds, but this decision has also caused a great deal of disruptions in the classroom and has even given way to bomb threats and other school attacks. (“How Schools Have Changed Since Columbine.” Criminal Justice Degrees Guide.) The Columbine massacre left a mark on America and the families affected. Since then, the school systems have changed drastically throughout the United States. School shootings have become a recurring problem, not only nationally, but worldwide and had long lasting effects on people. It is up to the nation as a whole to prevent school violence by using intensified school security, increased communication, “zero tolerance” policies, increased awareness, limited student privileges, emergency crisis planning, bullying and violence prevention programs, better mental health counseling, and lenient cell phone