The most effective security agents in a school often have no uniforms, formal training or experience. But they tend to know what’s going on before the hired professionals are likely to discover it and are in an ideal position to short-circuit violence.
We’re talking, of course, about the vast majority of peaceable students who may stumble upon the sinister designs of a few maladjusted classmates and, it is hoped, report them to school authorities.
This, of course, happened Friday at Skinner Middle School in Denver. A potential tragedy was averted when alert and responsible students raised the alarm about colleagues with guns.
Three boys were taken into custody, the school was put on temporary lockdown by police, and at least two handguns were confiscated.
The students who reported the boys deserve the highest praise. As the first line of defense against acts of mass violence, they were up to the challenge.
The incident is also a reminder of why students need to be urged periodically to report suspicious behavior by their peers rather than brush off sinister threats or claims as meaningless boasting — let alone keep quiet for fear of implicating friends.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit or check out our for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
