The History of School Shootings

Abstract

This chapter traces the history of school shootings from the first known case of students being shot in the late eighteenth century to the surge in school shootings, which started in the 1960s, and increased in the mid-1990s and again in the 2010s. Understanding the history of school shootings is vital if one is to develop a coordinated and comprehensive set of solutions. This chapter examines school shootings from all over the world, pointing to the fact that these acts of aggression are a global problem. Nevertheless, there is also a proper emphasis on the United States, because this is where most of the school shootings have taken place. The chapter particularly highlights the most lethal shootings. To more fully understand the rise of these acts of violence, some examination of mass shootings even beyond the scope of the school are included.