Ask the Experts, "Who Are the Authorities on School Shootings?"

There are very few people who have studied school shootings over a long time. However, with all the information from school districts, newspapers, radio, television reports and the Internet, there are some basic rules to remember.

First of all, parents are the ultimate authorities for their families. They understand their family dynamics and know the best way to present safety issues to their children. They also have the greatest interest in making sure that their children get the most current, relevant safety information.

Second, discussing school safety with children will be less likely to frighten them than silence. Children go through fire drills and, in some areas of the country, either tornado or earthquake drills. These sessions make them feel better because they know they have the information to get out of a building safely. The same goes for issues surrounding school shootings. Kids are definitely talking to each other. To make sure that your children get the information you want them to have, you'll have to talk to them, too.

To alleviate children's concerns, you and your children can have an idea session, either using information from experts, or by talking with your kids about their schools in particular. By personalizing your discussions, you're taking school safety to the next level. You're using general ideas from the experts to envision how your child could use them at his school. Where are good places to hide? What kind of windows does his school have? Where are the emergency exits? What should he do if he thinks he hears firecrackers on campus? The topics are endless.

No matter how much information there is, two subjects that you should discuss with your child, one-on-one, are gun safety and gun violence. Even if you don't have guns in your home, explain to your child how they work, and how they can lead to tragedy when kids play with them. If you don't know, go to a local shooting range or gun sales shop, and have the staff teach both of you. Even if you're totally against having guns, if your child understands how serious they are, then he will be more likely to make the choices you want him to, and will be more likely to tell you what he sees. If you own guns, this responsibility is even more pressing, since kids have a way of getting into things that they're not supposed to. Even if you store your guns in a safe, you owe it to your kids to educate them on how and why guns work, and the responsibility you bear as an owner. Many times children only see guns on television or in the movies, and they truly don't understand the destruction they can cause.

From escape routes to gun safety, parents are the ones their kids will respect the most when trying to piece together all the information they're getting about school violence. In their eyes, you're the school safety expert from whom they most want to hear.

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