The Growing Epidemic of Violence in Schools

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The school violence epidemic continues: Christopher Penley, 15, of Milwee Middle School in Orlando, FL, got into a scuffle with another student and brought a pellet gun to school. The pellet gun was painted black to look like a 9mm handgun. Two other students saw the weapon and reported it to school authorities. When he refused to drop the weapon, police officers shot him; he died two days later.

According to many reports, friends and classmates said Penley was often the target of school bullies and had tried to run away from home several times. He likely brought the weapon to school to scare his tormentors.

Eminent psychologist and author Dr. Ken Druck, the nation's foremost authority on school violence says, "Bullies and weapons still find their way into our nation's schools every day. Students, teachers and parents must be prepared."

Here are Dr. Druck's 5 Do's and Don'ts for encountering a weapon in school:

1. DON'T do anything to put yourself in danger, such as taking matters into your own hands.

DO go to a phone or to someone in authority ASAP. Be specific and report the details.

2. DON'T go around telling your friends. Word may get back to the person carrying the weapon that you have been talking about her.

DO talk about it only to authorities. They will know how to handle the situation.

3. DON'T ignore, minimize, or deny the danger of someone having a weapon. "It's OK, he's not going to hurt anyone" is a cop-out.

DO take responsibility for making your school and neighborhood safer by taking safe action.

4. DON'T antagonize the person carrying the weapon, or try to take it away from him.

DO try to calm down and reason with the person carrying the weapon, especially if there's no escape and you or another are at risk.

5. DON'T touch a weapon if you come across one, but don't leave a weapon unattended.

DO send someone for help if you see or discover and unattended weapon.

Dr. Druck is founder of the Families Helping Families program and has worked with families at Columbine and Santana high schools and at other sites of tragedy, including New York City after 9 11. Dr. Druck has been interviewed on Oprah, Larry King Live, Anderson Cooper 360, and dozens more shows nationwide. His latest book is How to Talk to Your Kids About School Violence.