A school safety expert argues that persistent bullying represents a significant risk factor in targeted school violence, citing federal data indicating that 80% of analyzed attackers had experienced such treatment. The commentary follows the October 15 shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, where three children and a teacher were killed. While investigators have not established a motive for the 16-year-old shooter, the expert contends that communities must address bullying as a cultural issue rather than a solely institutional one.
The expert, who has served as an anti-bullying specialist and expert witness, states that they have witnessed more than 20,000 students publicly apologize for bullying behavior around the world. In their assessment, these interventions have helped prevent some students from harming themselves or others. The author notes that while the specific role of bullying in the Silver Rail attack remains unknown, historical patterns in school violence warrant serious community attention.
The argument relies on the U.S. Secret Service report titled "Protecting America's Schools," which examined 41 targeted school attacks. The report analyzed the backgrounds of 35 attackers, all of whom were male. Of those individuals, 80% had experienced bullying, and for 57% of them, that bullying was persistent. The expert uses this data to challenge the common misconception that severe mental illness is the primary driver of school shootings. They assert that most people with severe mental illness are not violent and that equating psychiatric diagnoses with dangerousness stigmatizes individuals who require care while distracting from observable behavioral risks.
According to the expert, persistent abuse can leave children emotionally inflamed, leading some to express pain outwardly through anger or aggression. They criticize common responses to bullying, such as telling children to ignore cruelty or "turn the other cheek," describing these as ineffective in the face of relentless abuse. The expert also argues that requiring apologies without verifying that the abuse has stopped fails to ensure accountability, and moving targeted children to different classrooms while leaving aggressors unchecked deepens resentment.
The proposed solution centers on empowering bystanders, whom the expert identifies as possessing significant potential power in stopping bullying. Since bullies often seek an audience, witnesses can either reward cruelty through silence or laughter or help stop it through courageous action. The expert suggests that safe intervention by witnesses can shift the balance of power in favor of the targeted child.
To break the connection between persistent bullying and school violence, the expert calls for a national commitment beginning at home. They propose that families adopt a pledge requiring children to take one of three actions when witnessing bullying: comfort the targeted child afterward, report what they saw without tattering, or intervene directly using assertive but nonviolent words when safe. The expert emphasizes that reporting must be protected from retaliation, as children who face negative consequences for speaking up learn to remain silent. The article concludes by stating that while adults cannot stop every school shooting, they can stop complacency by teaching children that witnessing bullying carries a responsibility to act safely and compassionately.