Virginia Tech Tragedy: A Crisis of Leadership

It has been nearly a decade since the August 1998 release of Early Warning, Timely Response, a guide that "should be seen as part of an overall effort to make sure that every school in this nation has a comprehensive violence prevention plan in place." This document was jointly developed by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice in response to the May 1998 school shootings at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon where two students were killed and 25 others were injured.

On June 13 [1998], after the tragic loss of life and injuries at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon, President Clinton directed the Department of Education and the Department of Justice to develop an early warning guide to help "adults reach out to troubled children quickly and effectively." This guide responds to that Presidential request. It is our sincere hope that this guide will provide you with the practical help needed to keep every child in your school out of harm's way.
Early Warning, Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools
August 1998

Nearly a decade later and the response to the Virginia Tech Tragedy is almost identical:

In the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, [President Bush] charged us to travel to communities across our Nation to meet with a wide range of leaders on the broader issues raised by this tragedy, and to report back to you what we learned, together with our recommendations for how the Federal government can help avoid such tragedies in the future. The enclosed report summarizes our findings and provides our recommendations developed through discussions with educators, mental health experts, law enforcement and other key state and local officials from more than a dozen states.
From the Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy – June 2007

More meetings. More task forces. More reports.

Governors and state officials responded quickly to our requests to convene key leadership.
From the Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy – June 2007

"Responded quickly?"

Nearly a decade later and we treat each tragedy as the first and continue to ignore the warning signs.

Nearly a decade later and we remain complacent.

Nearly a decade later and we remain indifferent.

Nearly a decade later and we did not act to implement the recommendations from the Early Warning, Timely Response guide and the myriad of reports and guides in the intervening years.

This is not responsible leadership. The current flurry of meetings and activity in response to the Virginia Tech tragedy is just more politically expedient rhetoric.

Improved Awareness and Communication are Key to Prevention: It is important that parents, students and teachers learn to recognize warning signs and encourage those who need help to seek it, so that people receive the care they need and our communities are safe.
From the Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy – June 2007

Parents who lost their children at Virginia Tech can only weep as they read these words from the 2007 report. Words from the 1998 report are eerily similar:

Research-based practices can help school communities — administrators, teachers, families, students, support staff, and community members — recognize the warning signs early, so children can get the help they need before it is too late.
Early Warning, Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools
August 1998

But now it is too late for those who died at Virginia Tech. Students and teachers noticed warning signs of the future killer and cried for help. Despite their cries, university officials, like the leaders at Columbine, did not heed the warnings.

Virginia Tech's leadership failed the community, failed the students who lost their lives and failed the families and friends who lost their loved ones.

Yet, the President of Virginia Tech could find time to throw out a first pitch at Yankee Stadium shortly after the killings. A photo opportunity in a time of great tragedy. A slap in the face to those who lost their lives and to their families.

The families affected by the Virginia Tech tragedy are the victims of a crisis of leadership and they have a right to be angry. They deserve to be treated with dignity. They deserve apologies from those who failed them and left an indelible scar on their hearts. They deserve to be heard.

Americans must say enough to this indifference and disregard toward those who suffer.

Americans must feel their tears and respond with the healing balm of empathy and truthfulness.

Americans must rise up and commit to transforming our nation so this senseless suffering may cease.

As I have mentioned in a previous blog, School Security Concerns: Time For Action, the time for task forces and politically expedient responses is over. It is time for action.

Let's make the 2007-2008 school year the year when America REALLY responds to the school violence crisis and implements the measures necessary to prevent unnecessary tragedies in the future. Please review each of the reports listed below and commit yourself to create a safe environment in your school and community.

READ MORE

Early Warning, Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools – August 1998	Click here to visit site
Safeguarding Our Children: An Action Guide – April 2000	Click here to visit site
THE FINAL REPORT AND FINDINGS OF THE SAFE SCHOOL INITIATIVE: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF SCHOOL ATTACKS IN THE UNITED STATES – May 2002	Click here to visit site
PRACTICAL INFORMATION ON CRISIS PLANNING: A GUIDE FOR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES – May 2003	Click here to visit site
Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy – June 2007	Click here to visit site
Vincent Bove April 23, 2007 Blog	Click here to visit site