The Edvocate

Top Menu

Main Menu

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Lynch Educational Consulting
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • Books
    • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
    • Contact Us
    • The Edvocate Podcast
    • Edupedia
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • PreK-12
    • Assessment
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development
    • Classroom Management
    • Early Childhood
    • EdTech & Innovation
    • Education Leadership
    • Equity
    • First Year Teachers
    • Gifted and Talented Education
    • Parental Involvement
    • Policy & Reform
    • Special Education
    • Teachers
  • Higher Ed
    • Best Colleges and Universities
    • Best College and University Programs
    • Diversity
    • HBCU’s
    • Higher Education
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • International Education
  • Advertise
  • The Tech Edvocate Awards
    • The Awards Process
    • Finalists and Winners of The 2022 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2021 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2020 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2019 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2018 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2017 Tech Edvocate Awards
    • Award Seals
  • Apps
    • GPA Calculator for College
    • GPA Calculator for High School
    • Cumulative GPA Calculator
    • Grade Calculator
    • Weighted Grade Calculator
    • Final Grade Calculator
  • The Tech Edvocate
  • Pedagogue
  • P-20 Ed Careers

logo

The Edvocate

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Lynch Educational Consulting
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
        • My Speaking Page
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • Books
    • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
    • Contact Us
    • The Edvocate Podcast
    • Edupedia
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • PreK-12
    • Assessment
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development
    • Classroom Management
    • Early Childhood
    • EdTech & Innovation
    • Education Leadership
    • Equity
    • First Year Teachers
    • Gifted and Talented Education
    • Parental Involvement
    • Policy & Reform
    • Special Education
    • Teachers
  • Higher Ed
    • Best Colleges and Universities
    • Best College and University Programs
    • Diversity
    • HBCU’s
    • Higher Education
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • International Education
  • Advertise
  • The Tech Edvocate Awards
    • The Awards Process
    • Finalists and Winners of The 2022 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2021 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2020 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2019 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2018 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2017 Tech Edvocate Awards
    • Award Seals
  • Apps
    • GPA Calculator for College
    • GPA Calculator for High School
    • Cumulative GPA Calculator
    • Grade Calculator
    • Weighted Grade Calculator
    • Final Grade Calculator
  • The Tech Edvocate
  • Pedagogue
  • P-20 Ed Careers
  • Reggio Emilia Preschool Programs: Everything You Need to Know

  • Learning and Teaching Spanish

  • The Associate’s Degree: Everything You Need to Know

  • Commencement: Everything You Need to Know

  • Star Assessments Now Connect to Nearpod to Accelerate Student Growth

  • Unit Recovery: Everything You Need to Know

  • HighScope Preschool Programs: Everything You Need to Know

  • 20 Interesting Chemistry Projects

  • Emergent Preschool Programs: Everything You Need to Know

  • Fine Motor Skills: Everything You Need to Know

Education LeadershipSchool Leadership
Home›Education Leadership›School Resource Officers Can Prevent Tragedies, But Training Is Key

School Resource Officers Can Prevent Tragedies, But Training Is Key

By Matthew Lynch
January 20, 2020
1645
0
Spread the love

While there are a host of legitimate concerns regarding the potentially negative effects of hiring school resource officers in our nation’s schools, the benefits of having such staff members in place could be a tangible increase in lives saved. Back on March 20th of 2018, school resource officers Blaine Gaskill rushed straight towards a shooter who had opened fire in a common area of Great Mills High School in Maryland. The shooter had already wounded two students.

Gaskill’s act of instinct and heroism effectively kept the incident from becoming a tragedy akin to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida back in February 2018. Video footage of that shooting shows school deputy Scot Peterson inactive and standing outside of the school as a mass shooting was underway. 17 people, most of them students, were killed. While it is unfair to place blame on Peterson for the tragedy itself, it is indicative of a divide between those school resource officers who are well trained for such situations and those who fail to act.

The need for universal training standards

There are no national standards in place for how student resource officers are trained for their jobs. Incredibly, there are is litany of states who also do not have standards in place. With a lack of regulation and coherent oversight, there is a massive lack of consistency when it comes to how student resource officers are prepared for situations such as the two aforementioned shootings. 

Furthermore, a student resource officer is crucial not only for how they respond in such situations but for their adeptness and awareness when it comes to their prevention. The current SRO training which does exist throughout our nation’s schools tends to focus on legal issues and security. A more comprehensive and nuanced take on training is necessary for these officers to spot warning signs such as symptoms of trauma, along with learning de-escalation techniques, issues surrounding bullying and cyberbullying, key factors of child development, and the care needed to work with special needs students.

A lack of training, or proper training

While there is a concerted call by researchers and criminal justice experts for extended and specialized training for our nation’s school resource officers, the fact remains that very few of the 19,000 or so school resource officers in our schools are trained. This alone could explain the difference in the responses by the officers of the Maryland and Florida shootings. Universal specialized training could spell the difference between life and death, near-death, and actual tragedy.

Furthermore, additional training in the use of and access to specialized equipment used to gain forcible entry to locked buildings and classrooms would help our school resource officers to be action-oriented as the moment happens, rather than having to wait for help and it potentially being too late. But, the key remains in prevention. If we can build an adequate training system for our school resource officers which helps them identify students at risk and act accordingly, tragic shootings like the one in Parkland can potentially be avoided altogether.

Previous Article

5 Little Changes to Make Getting into ...

Next Article

Edlio Partners with Livingtree to Expand its ...

Matthew Lynch

Related articles More from author

  • Early ChildhoodEducation LeadershipLearning Strategies, Tactics, and MethodsTeachers

    20 Tips to Help Students Who Don’t Comprehend Your Instructions

    December 9, 2021
    By Matthew Lynch
  • EdTech & InnovationEducation LeadershipMatthew Lynch

    Beyond Principals: Leadership Assessment Tools for All Educators

    November 13, 2015
    By Matthew Lynch
  • School LawSchool Leadership

    Restorative Justice: Everything You Need to Know

    December 20, 2021
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Education LeadershipPolicy & Reform

    Why are police inside public schools?

    September 23, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Education LeadershipSchool Leadership

    How to Become an Education Administrator in Texas

    February 10, 2021
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Education LeadershipTeachers

    How to Teach Learners to Do a SWOT Analysis

    April 11, 2022
    By Matthew Lynch

Leave a reply Cancel reply

  • Artificial Intelligence

    Artificial Intelligence Makes Room for Innovation by Automating IT Tasks

  • Artificial Intelligence

    3 Ways Artificial Intelligence Brings Out the Worst in Education

  • Artificial Intelligence

    AI Has Started a Revolution in Education

Search

Registration and Login

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Newsletter

Signup for The Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in P-20 education news and opinion delivered to your email address!

Subscribe to The Edvocate Podcast

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAndroidby EmailRSS
  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Reggio Emilia Preschool Programs: Everything You Need to Know

    By Matthew Lynch
    August 16, 2022
  • Learning and Teaching Spanish

    By Matthew Lynch
    August 16, 2022
  • The Associate’s Degree: Everything You Need to Know

    By Matthew Lynch
    August 15, 2022
  • Commencement: Everything You Need to Know

    By Matthew Lynch
    August 15, 2022
  • Star Assessments Now Connect to Nearpod to Accelerate Student Growth

    By Chris Piehler
    August 15, 2022
  • 18 Reasons the U.S. Education System is Failing

    By Matthew Lynch
    April 3, 2017
  • The Top 5 Unexpected Benefits of Early Childhood Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    February 29, 2016
  • 7 Benefits of STEM Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 12, 2019
  • What is Culturally Responsive Pedagogy?

    By Matthew Lynch
    April 21, 2016
  • pass or fail

    Black Boys in Crisis: Why Aren’t They Reading?

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 16, 2017
  • Cognitive Learning: A Primer - The Tech Edvocate
    on
    August 6, 2022

    Cognitive Development: What You Need to Know

    […] you are aware ...
  • Benedict university - Top 10 Reasons To Consider - Wahbalami.COM
    on
    August 2, 2022

    Benedict College Admissions: Everything You Want to and Need to Know

    […] Find out what ...
  • 2 Août 1859 – Décès d’Horace Mann, père de l'éducation américaine - Nima REJA
    on
    August 2, 2022

    Pass or Fail: Horace Mann – An American Public School Pioneer

    […] https://www.theedadvocate.org/horace-mann-an-education-pioneer/ […]
  • “unleashing (of) the potential of continuous teaching and learning (improvement) in language education” – Learn With ...
    on
    July 31, 2022

    The Real Purpose of Assessments in Education

    […] Lynch, M. (2022, ...
  • What is the Biggest Problem in Education Today? - Rodney Coe Education
    on
    July 30, 2022

    18 Reasons the U.S. Education System is Failing

    […] The Edvocate lists ...

Ask an Expert

  • Ask An Expert

    How Dumbed Down Education Is Creating a National Security Crisis

    Spread the loveFor the past few decades, our country’s educational system has seen both struggle and tremendous change. With the various ailments plaguing our educational system, education reforms have attempted ...
  • Ask An Expert

    21 Inspirational Quotes That Nelson Mandela Made About Education

    Spread the loveWe all have our heroes. Those human beings that seem larger than life and almost achieve Godlike status. One of my heroes is the late-great Nelson Mandela, who ...
  • Ask An ExpertAssistive TechnologyCareer ReadinessChild Development TechClassroom ManagementDigital & Mobile TechnologyDigital LeadershipDisabilitiesDiversityEarly ChildhoodEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEducation LeadershipElementary EducationElementary SchoolEquityFirst Year TeachersFreshHigh SchoolK-12Middle SchoolModern ParentingParent & Family TechParental InvolvementParentingPersonalized LearningPodcastPolicy & ReformPreK-12Special EducationSTEMTeacher EducationTeachers

    The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 7: How Digital Age Teachers Can Win Over Parents

    Spread the loveEducation is a collaborative process, as it takes many stakeholders working in unison to help students succeed academically. One of the most integral parts of this collaborative team ...
  • Ask An ExpertAssessmentAssistive TechnologyBlack Boys in CrisisChild Development TechClassroom ManagementDigital & Mobile TechnologyDigital LeadershipDisabilitiesEarly ChildhoodEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & ReformEducation LeadershipElementary EducationElementary SchoolEquityFeaturedFirst Year TeachersFreshGamificationGifted and Talented EducationHBCU'sHigh SchoolHigher EducationK-12Online Learning & eLearningOpEducationPersonalized LearningPodcastPolicy & ReformRetention & Social Promotion SeriesSpecial EducationSTEMTeacher EducationTeachersTesting

    The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 6: 8 Ways That Digital Age Teachers Avoid Burning Out

    Spread the loveBeing a teacher is a tough job. So much so, many new teachers end up leaving the field within their first three years. To ensure that the next ...
  • Ask An ExpertAssessmentAssistive TechnologyBlack Boys in CrisisBullyingChild DevelopmentChild Development TechClassroom ManagementCurrent Ed NewsDigital LeadershipEarly ChildhoodEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & ReformEdTech Startups & BusinessesEducation LeadershipEquityFeaturedFirst Year TeachersFreshGamificationGifted and Talented EducationHBCU'sHigh SchoolHigher EducationHigher Education EdTechK-12Matthew LynchModern ParentingOnline Learning & eLearningOpEducationPersonalized LearningPodcastPolicy & ReformRetention & Social Promotion SeriesSpecial EducationSTEMTeacher EducationTeachersTestingYear-Round Schooling

    The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 5: The Archetype of a Great Teacher

    Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? I respond by mentioning my 10th-grade Biology teacher, Mrs. Minor, and ...

International Education

  • Education FoundationsInternational Education

    4 Reasons You Should Study Geography

    Spread the loveUsually, people are under the wrong impression that geography does not offer many job opportunities, and there are no jobs for a geographer. They think that studying geography ...
  • International Education

    How International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs Work

    Spread the loveThe International Baccalaureate Program is a very intensive pre-college program in which when students get involved, they get college credit. Unlike most other learning initiatives, this program deeply ...
  • International Education

    Globalization: Everything You Need to Know

    Spread the loveGlobalization is the growing interconnectedness of countries around the world. It involves increasing communication and various forms of interaction between people of different nations, ethnicities and cultures. There ...
  • AssessmentEducation LeadershipHigher EducationInternational EducationProfessional DevelopmentTeachers

    So You Want to Attend Graduate School: The 411 on Grad School Admissions Tests

    Spread the loveApplying for admission to professional and graduate schools is no less competitive than college/undergraduate admissions. If you’re planning to pursue a degree in business, law, medicine, or graduate ...
  • Higher EducationInternational Education

    What Extracurricular Activities Impress Colleges the Most?

    Spread the loveWhen you apply to schools that offer holistic admissions or apply to a college using the Common Application, you will have to describe your participation in extracurricular activities. ...

Early Childhood Education

  • Early ChildhoodPreK-12

    Reggio Emilia Preschool Programs: Everything You Need to Know

    Spread the loveReggio Emilia Preschool Programs originated from Reggio Emilia in northern Italy. They engage children via the exploration of varied ideas, e.g., gardening, and other project-based activities, with the ...
  • Early ChildhoodPreK-12

    HighScope Preschool Programs: Everything You Need to Know

    Spread the loveThese preschool programs, which are quite common in community-based programs such as the YMCA or other public centers, place emphasis on skills like counting, time-telling, and other practical ...
  • Early ChildhoodPreK-12

    Emergent Preschool Programs: Everything You Need to Know

    Spread the loveThis learning program can have varied constituents – depending on students and instructors. In this preschool program, teachers ensure the activities planned for the day are well suited ...
  • Early ChildhoodPreK-12

    Fine Motor Skills: Everything You Need to Know

    Spread the loveThis term describes the tiny movements carried out with the hands. In particular, students who are five years and younger need to engage in activities that build these ...
  • Early ChildhoodTeachers

    Teacher-Approved Kindergarten Workbooks

    Spread the loveWho says that workbooks need to be monotonous? We can tell you about some fantastic workbooks available to aid children in honing crucial reading and math abilities. To ...

Gifted and Talented Education

  • Gifted and Talented Education

    Twice-Exceptional: What Does it Mean?

    Spread the loveTo be twice-exceptional is to be exceptionally gifted in some academic aspects while being below average compared to peers in other aspects. As a matter of fact, such ...
  • Gifted and Talented Education

    A Guide to Talent Search Programs

    Spread the loveThe Talent Search Initiative has as its aim; the identification of high-performing students by organizing specific tests. Different avenues are then provided for these students to channel their ...
  • Gifted and Talented EducationK-12

    Homogeneous Grouping: What You Need to Know

    Spread the loveThis term refers to the grouping of students by mental capability, aptitude, or hobbies. For instance, gifted students are placed in one group, and students with special needs ...
  • Gifted and Talented Education

    Cluster Grouping: What You Need to Know

    Spread the loveThis term describes a manner of classifying gifted students to place them in properly segmented classrooms. For example, about five to seven extremely bright pupils with comparable skill ...
  • Gifted and Talented EducationHigher Education

    Merit Scholarships: Everything Your Need to Know

    Spread the loveThese are monetary gifts awarded by institutions to superbly gifted students, who have set themselves apart by their exceptional performance in schoolwork, regardless of whether they require the ...

Black Boys in Crisis Series

  • Black Boys in Crisis

    The Importance of Mentoring Young African-American Males

    Spread the loveTeachers need to realize that at home, in their neighborhoods, and in school, many students face difficulties that can interfere with learning. Compared to their middle-class counterparts, it ...
  • Black Boys in CrisisDiversityEquity

    7 Ways That Black Students are Discriminated Against in U.S K-12 Schools

    Spread the loveAfrican Africans have a long history of being mistreated in the United States, starting with slavery. It should come as no surprise that their children face the same ...
  • Ask An ExpertAssessmentAssistive TechnologyBlack Boys in CrisisChild Development TechClassroom ManagementDigital & Mobile TechnologyDigital LeadershipDisabilitiesEarly ChildhoodEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & ReformEducation LeadershipElementary EducationElementary SchoolEquityFeaturedFirst Year TeachersFreshGamificationGifted and Talented EducationHBCU'sHigh SchoolHigher EducationK-12Online Learning & eLearningOpEducationPersonalized LearningPodcastPolicy & ReformRetention & Social Promotion SeriesSpecial EducationSTEMTeacher EducationTeachersTesting

    The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 6: 8 Ways That Digital Age Teachers Avoid Burning Out

    Spread the loveBeing a teacher is a tough job. So much so, many new teachers end up leaving the field within their first three years. To ensure that the next ...
  • Ask An ExpertAssessmentAssistive TechnologyBlack Boys in CrisisBullyingChild DevelopmentChild Development TechClassroom ManagementCurrent Ed NewsDigital LeadershipEarly ChildhoodEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & ReformEdTech Startups & BusinessesEducation LeadershipEquityFeaturedFirst Year TeachersFreshGamificationGifted and Talented EducationHBCU'sHigh SchoolHigher EducationHigher Education EdTechK-12Matthew LynchModern ParentingOnline Learning & eLearningOpEducationPersonalized LearningPodcastPolicy & ReformRetention & Social Promotion SeriesSpecial EducationSTEMTeacher EducationTeachersTestingYear-Round Schooling

    The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 5: The Archetype of a Great Teacher

    Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? I respond by mentioning my 10th-grade Biology teacher, Mrs. Minor, and ...
  • Ask An ExpertAssistive TechnologyBlack Boys in CrisisBullyingChild DevelopmentChild Development TechClassroom ManagementDisabilitiesDiversityEarly ChildhoodEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & ReformEducation LeadershipElementary EducationElementary SchoolEquityFeaturedFirst Year TeachersFreshGifted and Talented EducationHigh SchoolHigher EducationHigher Education EdTechK-12Middle SchoolModern ParentingOnline Learning & eLearningParent & Family TechParentingPersonalized LearningPodcastPolicy & ReformSecondary EducationSTEMTeacher EducationTeachersTesting

    The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 4: How to Create a Culturally Responsive Classroom

    Spread the loveBuilding a culturally responsive classroom is hard. To help you along your journey, here is your guide to exploring and respecting the cultural backgrounds of your students while ...

RSS Matthew on Education Week

  • Au Revoir from Education Futures November 20, 2018 Matthew Lynch
  • 6 Steps to Data-Driven Literacy Instruction October 17, 2018 Matthew Lynch
  • Four Keys to a Modern IT Approach in K-12 Schools October 2, 2018 Matthew Lynch
  • What's the Difference Between Burnout and Demoralization, and What Can Teachers Do About It? September 27, 2018 Matthew Lynch
  • Revisiting Using Edtech for Bullying and Suicide Prevention September 10, 2018 Matthew Lynch

About Us

The Edvocate was created in 2014 to argue for shifts in education policy and organization in order to enhance the quality of education and the opportunities for learning afforded to P-20 students in America. What we envisage may not be the most straightforward or the most conventional ideas. We call for a relatively radical and certainly quite comprehensive reorganization of America’s P-20 system.

That reorganization, though, and the underlying effort, will have much to do with reviving the American education system, and reviving a national love of learning.  The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation.

Newsletter

Signup for The Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in P-20 education news and opinion delivered to your email address!

Contact

The Edvocate
5322 Markel Road, Suite 104
Richmond, VA 23230
(601) 630-5238
[email protected]

Follow us

Copyright (c) 2022 Matthew Lynch. All rights reserved.