By Dr. Marian Tadrous:
The Art of Crisis Management and School Security Plans
Researchers have described crisis management as an "art" because it involves a leader’s ability to manage situations, study and analyze events, and make quick decisions—critical skills during crises. Given that a crisis typically involves an emergency posing a real threat to an individual's existence, researchers have primarily concentrated on the preventative phase, developing strategies to address potential crises. However, there is a growing need to emphasize the post-crisis phase, focusing on drawing lessons, conclusions, and outcomes from the experience. This post-crisis analysis is the central focus of my article.
Recently, armed attacks have occurred in some schools, serving as a dangerous warning that we, as parents, teachers, and administrators, must urgently address to ensure the safety and security of all staff and students. As a researcher in crisis management, I emphasize the importance of preventing such incidents in the future.
Journalists and media professionals often focus on covering the incident's immediate details—investigating the crime's motives, identifying the victims and the accused, and exploring their social backgrounds. However, after a short period, they typically close the case and move on to other stories, without proposing long-term solutions to prevent future crises. This pattern is a recurring mistake every time a school shooting occurs.
A broader analysis of the situation clearly shows that we urgently need comprehensive security plans for schools at all levels, beginning with the security chief and extending to all personnel responsible for maintaining safety within the school environment.
First, the school security director should possess military experience or a degree from a police academy to be properly qualified to handle violent crimes. They must also be in good physical health and of an age that allows them to intervene swiftly during a crisis.
Second, it is essential to select a qualified and well-trained security team, ensuring that all members are licensed and have successfully passed security staff acceptance tests.
Third, as a precautionary measure, there should be ongoing communication between the social worker and the school's security team to exchange information regarding students who exhibit violent behaviors or have concerning backgrounds.
Fourth, schools should establish a student intelligence team to support the security staff in enhancing preventive efforts. These selected students would be responsible for reporting any information related to potential crimes before they occur, thereby helping to address student conflicts before they escalate into serious incidents.
Fifth, the number of security personnel assigned to a school should be proportional to the number of students and the school’s size and location. Larger schools and those in higher-risk areas will naturally require more security staff to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Sixth, each corridor within the school should have at least one assigned security officer and a surveillance camera to monitor student movement throughout the day. This would allow for early detection of any issues and quick intervention before a situation escalates into violence.
Seventh, securing all gates is critical. This proposal includes several components:
1. Install electronic security gates to inspect students' bags and ensure they are weapons-free.
2. Train all secretaries and staff working in school offices to support security personnel. Office staff should handle visitor inquiries, verify students' names and grades, and assess the purpose of the visit before allowing anyone to enter.
3. All visitors must present valid identification and register at the main gate before entering the building.
Eighth, train teachers and all school staff to protect themselves and their students during crises. It is dangerous for students to leave classrooms and gather in hallways to record videos of violent incidents. Instead, students must remain inside secure, locked classrooms during a crisis. Schools must take lockdown drills seriously and ensure teachers and students can apply their training effectively when real situations arise.
Ninth, emphasize the importance of swift action and decision-making during emergencies. Quick intervention by security personnel is vital to preventing violent clashes from escalating into serious crimes. Delays in responding to incidents can create a secondary crisis, resulting in staff feeling unsafe and parents losing trust in the school’s ability to protect their children.
We currently suffer from a major flaw in school security systems, as evidenced by repeated violent incidents in multiple schools. When a student decides to bring a weapon to school, it indicates that the crime was premeditated—planned without the full awareness of either parents or school administrators. This reveals a significant intelligence gap. Therefore, establishing a system of intelligence gathering by involving students is crucial.
Parents and school administrators often find it difficult to detect students' plans for an attack, while students themselves, being closely connected, are more likely to observe suspicious behaviors early. Schools can act quickly by encouraging students to relay information to security personnel before it's too late.
Tenth, it is critical to predict aggressive behavior before it escalates. This can be achieved through continuous communication between parents, teachers, social workers, and the security team. Schools must develop behavior intervention plans for students with known histories of violence, whether those incidents occurred in previous schools or within their families.
This is extremely important because schools often focus only on a student's behavior while overlooking historical warning signs that could predict future aggression. Research and observation show that many violent crimes committed by students are preceded by earlier acts of violence during elementary or middle school years. Failure to address and positively redirect these behaviors allows impulsiveness to evolve into full-scale aggression.
The lack of information puts the entire school community at risk, with the true extent of the threat often only becoming clear after a tragedy. Therefore, it is also crucial to share information about students with violent tendencies with teachers. This enables teachers to develop more effective communication strategies, build constructive dialogues, and form positive relationships with at-risk students to help prevent crises before they start.
A comprehensive crisis management plan must involve all of us—parents, teachers, and school leaders—because addressing school violence is a complex, multifaceted challenge that no single group can solve alone. It would be misguided to place sole blame on the school security system while overlooking the critical role of parents in supporting and guiding their children throughout their lives.
Many students become involved in violent crimes due to a lack of parental awareness and engagement. Increasingly, children experience social isolation as they spend long hours absorbed in social media platforms, where they are constantly exposed to images and stories of assaults and murders. While largely beyond our control, these influences still shape young minds and behaviors in ways we cannot ignore.
Yet, this reality does not absolve us of responsibility. On the contrary, it calls us to action: to bridge the growing gaps, strengthen our relationships with our children, and invest greater attention in their lives. We must guide them toward a healthier, more grounded path through prayer, by encouraging closeness to God, and by teaching them the enduring principles of the Bible, which forbid violence and murder and instill peace, reassurance, and tranquility in the soul.
Moreover, we must offer students positive outlets for their energy and emotions. This can be done by encouraging participation in volunteer activities, community service, and helping those in need. By redirecting negative energy into acts of kindness and compassion, we protect our schools and help shape a generation rooted in empathy and love.
As it is written: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9)
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