School shootings have become big news again this year. As the second anniversary of the worst school shooting in American history—the shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado—approached, Americans once again saw scenes of violence played out on their TV screens.
This time the children being led out of their schools in tears and confusion were in California and Pennsylvania.
Bush says if schools cannot keep students safe, then parents should have the option of sending their children to private schools. The proposal is similar to using vouchers for kids at poor performing schools. Schools would have to publicly report any fights, assaults, shootings, or other violent events. The data would be collected, and the schools judged on whether they are "persistently dangerous." Students in the schools determined to be dangerous would receive vouchers to send their kids to other schools. Bush's plan would also let teachers kick bad kids out of class.
Sending kids to school who are afraid of being attacked "is the ultimate betrayal of adult responsibility," Bush says.
Opponents of his plan say it is too hard to determine which schools are "persistently dangerous." For example, two school shootings this year near San Diego happened in wealthy neighborhoods. Up until the shootings, neither school would have been considered dangerous under the Bush proposal. Also, critics say letting the good kids leave will make things worse.
"You can't have a school that is perhaps more persistently dangerous left behind," says House Rep. Michael N. Castle of Delaware.
