News
By Kelly Morenus
|
March 31, 2008
Following the shootings at Virginia Tech last April, Education Prof. Dewey Cornell found that Virginia high school students have become more likely to report a threat of violence in their schools.
In the Virginia High School Safety Study conducted last April, about 7,400 freshmen from 296 high schools across the commonwealth were surveyed about the atmosphere of their school, the amounts of structure and support offered, and their willingness to report a threat of violence, Cornell said.
In comparing survey responses, "we found students surveyed after the Virginia Tech shooting showed an increase in willingness to seek help," Cornell said, adding that about 75 percent or more of students surveyed said they were likely to seek help if a fellow student talked about killing someone.
According to a summary of the study, 85 percent of students agreed that they would tell a teacher if a student brought a gun to school.