The Bloomfield, N.M., incident demonstrates that video cameras, while serving as a handy deterrent, offer no certain guarantee that school bus passengers will behave. But the video footage could prove to be a useful tool in sorting out the facts of the conflict and in developing protocol to deal with similar incidents in the future.
Still, school districts have only scratched the surface when it comes to the benefits of technology, and, moving forward, more creative applications of technology are sure to play a role in efforts to make the school bus a safer place.
For example, a Needham, Mass.-based company called Bus Radio has developed a broadcast system for school buses that airs a combination of music, public service announcements, safety lessons and advertisements while students ride to and from school (See News Alert). The system also incorporates the use of a “panic button” that drivers can push during a crisis to immediately alert local law enforcement agencies and provide the bus’ whereabouts through a GPS tracking device.
Studies from pilot programs of the system suggest that rates of misbehavior have decreased among students who listen to Bus Radio, which tends to have a pacifying effect on the bus environment, says company president Steven Shulman. “What we are doing is using age-appropriate radio programs and music to soothe the beast on the bus, and, at the same time, offering other safety features that are so important.”
Despite the promise of the concept, controversy abounds. Mansfield (Mass.) Public Schools recently canceled a contract with Bus Radio, which garners its revenue from advertising, after a deluge of parental objections citing a commercialization of the bus ride.
The future of technology on the school bus, it seems, tends to revolve around the integration of multiple cutting-edge gadgets. Having interior and exterior video surveillance units, digital communications and bus-tracking systems integrated into one management program accessible from a remote location provides a streamlined method for monitoring the activities on a school bus. As technology continues to improve, it’s important to remember that no amount of high-tech wizardry can substitute for an alert driver and an established protocol for dealing with unruly bus riders.
Stopping the bleeding
Preparation and prevention are only the first parts of a complete strategy for dealing with school bus violence. Your response to events that do occur is also crucial. While it won’t stop kids from fighting or smuggling weapons onboard, an exceptionally important consideration is what procedures and services are in place to deal with the aftermath of a harrowing incident.
Counseling services and grief management programs are a good start. David Finkelhor, co-director of the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire, specializes in the cause and effect of school violence and claims that offering a calming effect can go a long way in dealing with the shockwaves of a particularly ugly episode. “Improved methods for dealing with the shock and grief caused by school killings are helping lighten the burden of tragedy that does occur,” he says.
Additionally, any event on the bus should be properly documented and reported. Having a system for record-keeping helps in the disciplinary process and in determining how to address potential problems in the future. Documentation also aids in protecting a school district from liability in the event of litigation stemming from an incident.
Joey Campbell is a former editor at Bobit Business Media, parent company of SCHOOL BUS FLEET and METRO Magazine.
7 indicators of a concealed weapon
The following signs do not always indicate the presence of a weapon, but experience has shown that these are the most obvious behaviors of someone who is “holding.”
1. Frequent bodily adjustments: Gun violators in particular will typically touch and/or adjust concealed weapons numerous times during the day. This activity ranges from a subtle tap to a distinct grasp. Violators often make these movements when getting out of a chair or walking up the steps to board the bus.
2. Unnatural gait: Violators may fail to bend their knees because they have rifles or shotguns in their pants. They may also walk uncomfortably because they have guns, knives or other weapons hidden in their boots or shoes causing discomfort.
3. Jacket sag: When you place a handgun in a jacket pocket, the coat typically hangs lower on the side where the weapon is located. In addition, you will often see the fabric pulled tight from the weight of the gun, and the weapon may swing as a violator walks. Often, the outline of the weapon may be observed in the pocket area. In some cases, the violator will attempt to hold or pin the weapon if it begins to swing or beat against their body.
4. Hunchback stride: When trying to conceal a shotgun, rifle or submachine gun under a coat while walking, the butt of the weapon will often cause a noticeable bulge behind the armpit. Additionally, the jacket does not move naturally because it is supported by the outline of the weapon. Also, when someone wears a shoulder holster or straps on a sawed-off rifle, shotgun or submachine gun under his or her arm, a bulge in front of or behind the armpit will often be visible.
5. Weapon outline: An alert officer can often spot the telltale bulge of a weapon or, in some instances, the distinct outline of a handgun, knife or brass knuckles in a violator’s pocket.
6. Visible weapons: Clearly the most reliable of all the indicators is when the weapon can actually be seen. It’s astounding how many times an armed intruder has entered a facility with a rifle or shotgun protruding from under his or her jacket without being observed by staff.
7. Palming: Most often observed with the edged weapon violator but occasionally seen with gun violators, palming behaviors often indicate imminent risk to the observer. The knife violator may run the blade of the weapon up along the arm or behind the leg to conceal it from frontal view. Just before a target is attacked, a violator will also typically have his or her eyes fixed on the intended victim.
Source: Campus Safety Magazine, July/August 2006.