BY CINDY KRANZ
The Cincinnati Enquirer
When two Jonesboro, Ark., boys opened fire at their school March 24, killing four classmates and a teacher, some experts advised parents to tell their children that such incidents are rare.
Does that advice still hold true in light of subsequent shooting incidents?
At least two experts say yes.
"Even though it doesn't seem like it, . . . this is a rare kind of event," said W. Michael Nelson, chairman of the Department of Psychology at Xavier University.
"Parents should talk with their kids about what they should do if they're threatened or hear students threatening other students, teachers or staff members."
Parents also should encourage their children to report the incident to them, so parents can guide them, or to someone they can trust, he said.
Jacqueline Kinard, a clinical psychologist with a practice in Mariemont, said, "It's important for parents to give their children very . . . specific steps to take if they feel they're in a threatening situation."
Advise children to tell someone if they see a gun at school or hear a threat, she said, so children feel they have some control or influence over what happens in their school.
Rather than tell them school shootings are rare, said Marilyn Gale, a licensed independent social worker and coordinator of the Interagency School Crisis Team for Hamilton County, encourage kids to keep talking about the shooting incidents and keep asking questions.
Kids, she said, should feel safe enough to come to parents or other adults when kids are threatening them.
What if children ask whether a shooting could happen at their school?
"Be honest with them. "It's possible, but let's hope it doesn't happen,' " said April Payne, certified social worker at Family Service of the Cincinnati Area. "Talk about things they can do to maybe prevent it. If they see a child with a gun or hear somebody talk about bringing a gun to school, tell someone. . . . Definitely, talk about the danger of guns."
