With so much going on in the world, why focus on what seems to be isolated cases regarding school violence?
Have you heard the phrase or slogan, “think globally, act locally”? I believe we have the greatest impact when we act locally. Locally doesn’t have to mean anything more than within the walls of your own home, whether you live alone or in a family. The Gray family in Georgia and the Crumbley family in Michigan are real examples of letting violence spill from their home into the school community. The impact is at least national. So many YouTube videos prove my point.
What we do, does matter. Keep water running in your apartment, and it could flood 4 other apartments. Trust me, I have first hand experience with someone flooding my apartment and 3 others. Maybe your tree grows roots that are from an invasive species, and it ruins a neighbor’s grass. Yes, I actually published an editorial on that issue.
When children act violently in a classroom, in general a well controlled public setting, chances are high that the behavior is not unique to the school setting. Have you heard of the expression “street angel, house devil”? Public persona is important to none sociopaths or psychopaths. Most normal people let their “hair down” at home and can act with respect and appropriately in public. So red flags should be considered when the home beliefs and behaviors spill into the public sector especially when the behaviors are violent.
If you tell me that the kid acting out in school gives no problem at home, I would say you are living with a bucket on your head.
The current trial under way in Georgia and the 2024 trial of the parents of the Oxford High School shooter are a long time in coming.
If you are a parent, family member, work in a school, are a licensed physician or psychiatrist, or a person not living under a rock, these trials have more than local impact. The trial is public. Fortunately, the media took an interest. The Georgia father’s trial is streaming on many YouTube channels.
I also think school districts hold culpability if direct knowledge is known or illegal access to the school is allowed due to negligence or the “nothing can happen here” mentality. To some 2021 and 2024 are ancient history. The 2025 and 2026 school years have examples of school shootings too.
With each shooting, more constraints are on put on others who are truly innocent.
Maybe a reminder is needed of when you know something, say something. Do not falsely accuse, but concerns are usually validated.
April is a huge anniversary month for school shootings. The Columbine Effect is real. Copycat crimes are real. Prevention verses intervention verses rescue and recovery, choose wisely. It is true, an ounce of prevention as they say.
And for global sake, don’t buy your troubled or mentally I’ll child a gun. Sometimes the gun is turned on the family members first. Kip Kinkle in May 1998 and Adam Lanza in 2012. Don’t let your local area become a global scandal.
https://www.youtube.com/live/Z6Kum4amxc8?si=iICw5WMJPUH0UiwS
Think locally, act globally.
Marian R. Carlino
March 1, 2026
