In September of this year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Houston field division reported more hoax school threats than in any other month for the past three years. Despite the recent uptick, however, hoax/prank threats are not new.
One 2023 study conducted by the American Psychological Association analyzed 1,000 school threats made between the years 2018 and 2022 and concluded that, in 40% of cases, it could not be determined whether the threats were genuine or fake. “Copycat threats”, for instance, refer to the spike in imitative threats that often follow high-profile acts of violence, like terrorist attacks and school shootings. The relationship between genuine and hoax threats, therefore, can become self-perpetuating.
Nevertheless, the consequences of fake threats are undeniably real: over 60% of the above-cited cases prompted student arrests, the majority on felony charges.
Most recently, a bomb threat made against Bellaire High School sent the school into temporary “secure mode” and resulted in the arrest of one student, according to local news reports. A week prior, one 16-year-old student of Channelview Independent School District was arrested for threatening a potential school shooting.
Consequences on the public also abound: panic among parents, symptoms of trauma and increased anxiety in students and staff members, and disrupted student learning are only a few.
As for school districts, numerous logistical issues accompany responding to school threats, both as they are being disseminated and in the aftermath. According to one reporter for Education Week, “Schools dealing with disruption from threats must meet a twofold communications challenge: discourage students from making false threats while encouraging them to report concerning information to adults at school or through anonymous reporting systems.”
See important information regarding anonymous reporting in Texas here.
Last month, HISD Director of Safety and Emergency Management Craig Shaw revealed a potential district-wide policy banning students’ cellphone use during lockdowns, citing possible interference with first responder duties and the fear that electronic noises could place students at direct risk of an impending attack. Understandably, Houston parents are hesitant to embrace a policy that could render them unable to communicate with their children in the event of an emergency.
Elsewhere in the United States, schools’ responses to threats include transitioning to virtual learning, as one Chicago school has done, and searching student’s bags upon entry, like officials at a middle school in Boston. According to the same article cited previously, one Florida Sheriff has advocated publicly shaming offenders by posting their photos on social media.
Across the country, school districts and law enforcement have increased collaboration to tackle this issue, raising concerns that the over-securitization of educational spaces might prove counterproductive.
In the absence of viable, long-term solutions, the subject of school violence takes on a deeply personal nature for parents.
One Enrichery staff member who is also a mom of two young children acknowledges the fear that can accompany dropping her little ones off at school: “As a parent, I know how hard it can be to imagine my own kids ever experiencing a threat of school violence, real or hoax,” she shares. “But it cannot be understated how important it is to stay attuned to the content your children are consuming online. I’m not advocating for complete surveillance, but regular, vulnerable conversations between parents and children can reveal a lot about the company they keep, any dangerous trends circulating on social media, and whether or not your child feels safe and supported at school.”
The Enrichery also encourages parents to stay up-to-date with the news concerning education and safety in their school district. When Spring Branch ISD hosted a school safety board meeting two weeks ago, many parents attended, including some of our very own staff at The Enrichery.
The Enrichery’s staff writers believe in the value of conveying accurate, relevant information to our readers, even when the subject matter is difficult. We are currently working on a follow-up article discussing the ways you, as parents, can discuss school threats and social media use with your own children. Please look out for its release next week on The Enrichery’s blog page and newsletter.
