| On Wednesday morning, September 23, a Tyler | | | | At home, work and school, we all expect, and hope |
| Texas high school teacher was stabbed to death by | | | | for, a reasonable degree of safety. Violent, |
| one of his sixteen year old students. | | | | unprovoked crimes like the horrific stabbing in Texas |
| As far as we know, this was a random and entirely | | | | certainly cannot be anticipated or reasonably |
| unprovoked attack. Todd Henry, age 52, was a | | | | prevented, however, there are potentially threatening |
| special education teacher at John Henry High School. | | | | situations that we can take more control over. |
| He was in his classroom around 9:00 in the morning | | | | Without suggesting an unnecessary degree of |
| with one paraprofessional assistant and just three | | | | paranoia, we can be alert for individuals who |
| students. By all accounts It was a typically quite | | | | approach too closely or too quickly into our person |
| atmosphere with nothing out of the ordinary. It's | | | | space. We can be conscientious about the times of |
| reported that one of the students approached the | | | | the day, or night, when we venture out alone, and |
| teacher and stabbed him with an edged weapon. | | | | we can be sure to not go into dangerous areas alone. |
| Recently reduced security measures in the school | | | | Having a whistle or some sort of personal alarm can |
| district had authorized the removal of metal scanners. | | | | scare off a predator. |
| Thus the student, whose name has not been | | | | In our homes, common sense steps like locking doors |
| released to the media, was able to bring the | | | | and windows, closing blinds after dark and not |
| undetected knife onto school property. After the | | | | opening the door to strangers can drastically reduce |
| attack, the student was immediately subdued by the | | | | the chance for intruders to carry out any harm. The |
| classroom paraprofessional and turned over to police. | | | | addition of a home security system can assist in |
| Mr. Henry was rushed to a nearby hospital by | | | | keeping criminal elements outside, and alert us if |
| ambulance but tragically pronounced dead upon arrival. | | | | uninvited strangers come onto our property. The |
| Dr. Randy Reid, Superintendent for the Tyler | | | | peace of mind afforded by home alarms, surveillance |
| Independent School District, stated that Mr. Henry | | | | and monitoring services is well worth the investment. |
| had been a teacher for just over six years. He | | | | Crime and violent behavior aren't anything new. |
| indicated that the attack was unforeseen and | | | | Sociopaths have been plaguing the public for the |
| isolated. It is not known if the teacher and student | | | | duration of recordable history. News sources might |
| had any prior incidents of altercation that could have | | | | make modern reporting more swift and prevalent, |
| lead to such a violent outcome. Resources say the | | | | but humanity has long been unpredictable. One thing |
| incident is neither gang related nor racially motivated. | | | | that has changed is the number of technological |
| Classes were canceled on the day of the stabbing, | | | | resources available to enhance our personal |
| but were to resume as scheduled the following day. | | | | protection. We can't foresee the future, and life |
| Dr. Reid noted that the school will provide ongoing | | | | would be sad and isolated were we to become |
| counseling support for any students as needed. He | | | | unduly suspicious of all mankind; however, there are |
| also explained that as a result of the attack, the | | | | reasonable and thoughtful measures we can take to |
| school will increase its security measures in the | | | | add to our own degree of safety. |
| foreseeable future. | | | | |