"Bang, Bang, You're Dead" - A Look at School Violence Prevention

Facing school violence is a difficult task for school counselors and other school staff members because it is often not addressed until a violent incident forces the problem to come to the surface. School counselors must take a leading role in preventing violence in schools and make sure that an effective system is in place to deal with violent students and violent acts on school property. Sometimes it may be difficult to simultaneously appease parents and administrators, look out for the welfare of individual students, and do what is best for the school as a whole. This dilemma is exemplified in the movie, Bang, Bang, You're Dead (2002).

In the film, Trevor is a good student who threatens to blow up the school football team after they begin bullying him. After being expelled the previous year, Trevor returns to a school where he is harassed by bullies, labeled a "terrorist" by students and teachers alike, and ignored by many who fear and do not understand him. His parents are unsupportive, and only one teacher seems to believe in him. That same teacher, in compliance with the school's "Zero Tolerance Policy", is prompted to turn in a violent video that Trevor makes in a film class. Due to his history, Trevor's house is searched by cops and no one seems to believe that he has nothing to do with an escalating tension and between the jocks and the outcasts. These other outcasts, the "Trogs", are the ones who are inspired to bring guns and violence into the school, but Trevor stops them just in time.

This movie brings up several important points relating to school violence prevention. Research has shown that school climate awareness, confidential reporting systems, and student identification with academics are important factors in preventing school violence (Whitted & Dupper, 2005). In the high school represented in Bang, Bang, You're Dead, these three areas do not seem to be school-wide priorities. The movie does not specifically discuss the school's prevention plans; instead all we hear about is their "Zero Tolerance Policy". It is used mainly to expel or suspend students who break rules, but does not seem to be effective in preventing the violence before it takes place. One might examine what might have avoided if the three factors mentioned were taken into account in Trevor's situation.

All the focus of administration in the movie was on Trevor's original violent act, yet no one bothered to find out what triggered him. The school climate should have been monitored better so that the pervasive and cruel bullying that was taking place could have been the focus of more attention before it got out of hand. Many high school coaches do a wonderful job of emphasizing leadership and responsibility in their athletes, but this is not always the case. In Trevor's school, the boys on the football team seemed to be above the law. Their bullying was overlooked as "horsing around", and nothing was done to stop it. While watching Trevor get thrown into a trash can head-first in the school cafeteria at lunch time, it was hard to understand why no teachers were on hand to intervene. It should be mandatory for teachers and staff members to be patrolling hallways, lobbies, cafeterias, and other non-classroom areas at times when students congregate. Just having an adult presence might have prevented some of this bullying from taking place, or at the very least, would have ensured that the behavior was reported and addressed.

Another problem with the high school in the film was that a confidential reporting system was not apparent. Though their fellow classmates were being threatened, shoved into lockers, pushed face first into toilets, and thrown into trash cans, student bystanders simply went about their business and either laughed at or ignored violent behavior that should have been reported. If confidential reporting had been stressed to students on a regular basis, maybe someone would have brought the problem to attention before it got so out of hand. Students need to be educated about bullying so that they know how to recognize the difference between lighthearted teasing and harmful aggression or taunting. They need to feel confident that reporting a violent act is not "tattling", but is their responsibility to keep their school safe.

Research has shown that students who identify themselves with academics are less likely to become perpetrators of violence. This research also suggests that students who do not feel closely linked to their school may be more likely to become violent towards other students (Osborne, 2004). It makes sense that a student who feels ostracized, who is often in trouble, or who has been repeatedly suspended or expelled might feel like he or she does not belong. One can see how a student like this might begin to feel animosity towards those students who do seem to "fit in". Because many of these low-achieving students may also be having problems at home, they may not have any place where they feel safe being themselves. The isolation and lack of a support system put them at risk for violence. Like Trevor, they become convinced that violence is the only way to be seen, to be heard, to be recognized. Trevor was lucky enough to have one teacher who believed in him, who valued his talents and respected his intelligence. If the drama teacher had not been persistent in getting Trevor involved as the lead in a play, he never would have met Jenny, the one person who really listened to him. It was his connection to Jenny and his teacher that made him decide to take action against the students who were coming in to the school to shoot people. They were both in the cafeteria that day, and Trevor did not want them hurt.

This movie shows what a difference can be made when a single teacher, or a single student, decides to reach out to someone who needs help. It is important for teachers, parents, staff, and students to understand just how much their actions can affect others. School counselors are in a unique position to help prevent school violence by creating, maintaining, and upholding an effective school violence prevention program that involves the entire school, not just those who are at risk for violence. As a school counselor, I will make sure that factors such as school climate, confidential bully reporting, and student identification with academics, are major areas of focus at my school. Although school violence is not often a pleasant topic of discussion, ignoring it will not make it go away. Movies like Bang, Bang, You're Dead show us the importance of addressing school violence before the problem gets out of hand.

References

Gabler, D. (Producer) and Ferland, G. (Director). (2002, October 13). Bang, Bang, You're Dead.

Osborne, J.W. (2004). Identification with academics and violence in schools. Review of General Psychology. 8(3), 147-161.

Whitted, K. S., & Dupper, D.R. (2005). Best practices for preventing or reducing bullying in schools. Children & Schools, 27(3), 167-175.