THE shocking massacre of young schoolchildren in Connecticut a week before Christmas last year should galvanize parents, school and education officials here to draw up plans and measures to keep campuses safe and insulated from acts of violence.

The shooting that occurred at the Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 20 children dead is one of the most harrowing school shootings in the US because many of the victims were aged six and seven. It happened five years after a student at the Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia opened fire and killed 32 people before killing himself.

No such violence has been witnessed in a school in the Philippines. However, this should not be a reason for school and education officials to be complacent, because there is no certainty that schools and campuses here will forever be untouched by such tragedies.

Already, some disturbing incidents have been seen in a campus in Manila. Late last year, a student was stabbed in the corridors of Far Eastern University. Several weeks later, another student was fatally shot near the same school.

These may be “minor” crimes compared to the shooting rampage seen in US schools, but who knows when such nerve-wracking terror will unfurl in Philippine schools?

It would not hurt if the Education department, in coordination with school officials, starts drawing up plans to protect students in the off-chance that a violent incident erupts in a school.

One important aspect that should be given priority in laying out such a web of protection for school children is strengthening the ties among teachers, school officials and parents. This should not be difficult because Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs) already exist in all provinces. However, the mission and vision of PTAs should be expanded to include the identification and implementation of programs, policies, activities and projects that would complement and enhance school security.

PTAs were established to involve parents in the implementation of programs and activities in schools. This way, parents are made constantly aware of what is going on in the school, and what projects they, the students or the community will be immersed in. This purpose is commendable, because through PTAs, the communication line between educators, parents and other school staff remains open.

The Department of Education acknowledges the importance of parents’ participation in school activities because a child’s education is not limited to the classroom. In fact, aside from parents, other members of the community and stakeholders are also encouraged to join the association not just to help improve the school but also to help instill in students values and lessons that would hopefully make them good leaders, productive and responsible citizens in the future.

In light of the violent school shootings that have rocked not just the United States but other countries as well, there is a need for parents, teachers and school officials to further close ranks to protect students from any possible outburst of violence. No one can predict when, where or how such an incident will happen, which makes it all the more important for all stakeholders to draw up, lay down and implement measures to protect students, especially the younger ones.

Securing a school should start at home. Thus, parents should be made more aware of their responsibility to keep a watchful eye on their children, who they hang out with in and out of school. Closer interaction with their children could help parents identify potential trouble or pick up tell-tale signs that something is amiss in the community. These issues or concerns can be discussed during PTA meetings, and if deemed serious or alarming, these pieces of information can then be shared with local officials or the police.

In addition to the usual fire and earthquake drills, schools should now and then also hold drills simulating a shooting attack. School officials should identify safe areas where students can hide or seek shelter should there be a shootout or if a mad man runs amuck. This way, if and when such an incident happened, there would be less chaos, and the physical, mental and psychological damage on students would be reduced.

Sometimes, there is no stopping a mentally-unhinged person from sowing terror. But teaching students, especially the young ones, what to do and where to go during such an emergency would save lives.

(Venus D. de Guzman is a teacher of the Bidduang National High School in Pamplona, Cagayan.)