What can stop violent outbreaks in America? Everyone has responsibilities to ensure a safe school. No parents send their children to school to be slaughtered. It isn’t strangers who are murdering students. It is one of their own. Interview the students and they know “who” would “most likely” be the perpetrator of such evil. Teachers know, too.

Reviewing the big picture, we have to begin with the tragic breakdown of families. Too many children do not have responsible parents to guide them. Often, there is no one to love and encourage them. No one to set the example of “doing the right thing.” No one to listen the children’s concerns and struggles.

So, when parents are not acting responsibly, the teacher and then the child protection agencies are there to back up the student. Also, the protocol of the school, may require the principal, nurse or counselor to support the child. When this front line of defense fails, the results are tragic.

Another part of the big picture are the teachers. Teachers are mandated reporters and are required to report (within a 24-hour period) any child who shows signs of neglect, abuse, depression and/or aggression. The teacher’s written report goes to child protection agencies and a copies are put into the principal’s, student’s and teacher’s files.

Some schools have nurses on staff or counselors who can be called in to observe and support students.

So, year after year, first grade, second grade and on … for 12 years, teacher after teacher, none of their mandated reports made a difference in the life of Nikolas Cruz in Florida. Teachers are the first line of defense for students … just doing what is expected of them.

And, assuming that teachers did this mandated reporting, what is the responsibility of the child protection agency? What did they do? What did they do to protect this boy? Did they work with the family and teacher to help and protect the child? Did they report to the principal and police and any other agency that would be appropriate? We don’t know.

Child protection agencies and local police also have a role to play in being the back up for the student.

Home visits and follow-up interaction are critical to use their support effectively.

Schools have protocols in place to handle persons coming into the school. Sloppy enforcement of the rules for entering the school does not work for anyone … certainly not students, parents, teachers and staff. Who wasn’t watching when Cruz entered? The school truly let down students and families.

The lack of following procedures and interceding for Cruz by the FBI is unforgivable. We know what they didn’t do. For all the time “see and tell” worked well, this one didn’t at an incredible cost.

It is not the gun that kills, but guns in the wrong hands is the lethal combo. Counties need to review their big picture and keep their records on students in danger available so these students cannot get guns. Communications and cooperation between parents, teachers, students, school, child protection agencies and police is most important to the safety of students. Experts should decide which kind of guns no one can get until they are 21 yrs old.

Student protests are very effective at giving students an opportunity to verbalize their fears and frustrations. Just focusing on “gun” control, however, does not address the extensive failures to perform — all the opportunities missed by those who should have been cutting this nightmare off before it started.

— Sue Rosa is a retired teacher who lives in Bend.