Violence in Schools: Our Schools Need God
A 16-year-old girl was brutally stabbed to death in a school. Weeks before, we read of bullying, gang violence and sexual assault in schools. At such times, our words fall short, and all we feel is sorrow and heartbreak at life’s cruelty. These stories are no longer distant headlines; they are happening here, in our own schools, in our own country, in Malaysia.
As a teacher, this reality feels deeply unsettling because schools are meant to be a refuge of learning, laughter and growth. Now it feels shadowed by fear. We enter the gates wondering if our students are truly safe, and if our lessons can reach their hearts and minds. We are left asking, how did we come to this point and when did violence become so common?
Living in the days of Noah
In Genesis 6:5, it says, “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.”
Sin has always been part of the human story, beginning with Cain’s murder of his brother Abel. Wickedness isn’t new but what makes it so alarming today is how rampant it has become, even within schools, with weapons brought in by students themselves.
And yet, in the middle of Genesis 6’s moral chaos stood one man: Noah, the preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). He wasn’t perfect, but when everyone else ignored the warning that a flood was coming, Noah obeyed.
That’s perhaps the same call for us today—to keep walking with God even when the world ignores or ridicules us, to keep raising Noahs in a generation growing darker by the day, and to stand for righteousness when the world calls evil good and good evil.
Spiritual battles for the human heart
Behind every violent act and hardened heart is spiritual warfare. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Jesus himself revealed Satan’s nature as violent and destructive, calling him a “murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). Because Satan hates everything that reflects God’s image, he distorts our thinking, poisons our speech, and twists our actions so that we end up harming the very people God calls us to love.
The bullying, hatred and cruelty we’re seeing in schools today are not just social problems, but spiritual battles for the human heart. And not surprisingly, Satan knows exactly where to target—the young generation, the future leaders.
The young are vulnerable but there’s hope
Every young person wants to find belonging, and they are surrounded by either positive or negative influences. Family issues like conflict, abuse, neglect, poor communication and divorce all add to a child’s emotional wounds. Social media, on the other hand, feeds them with the antidote of entertainment, pleasure and the belonging they so crave for. Put together, they lead to reckless choices as adolescents find ways to cope and express their frustrations.
But here’s the truth that still burns brighter than the darkness: God is not done with this world. He still reigns. The same God who wept at the world’s wickedness in Noah’s day still offers grace today. Real transformation does not begin with harsh policies or punishment, but with the heart, and only the gospel of Jesus Christ can change a human heart.
As teachers, parents, and believers, we may not be able to stop every act of violence, but we can be living testimonies of peace, love and truth. We can bring change one day at a time by continuing to share the gospel that changes hearts.
In everything that we do or say, let’s point others to the only hope that never fades: Jesus Christ. Let’s educate our young ones to pray, discern, have self-control, stand firm in faith, and be the Noahs of this generation even when the world turns away.
A prayer for all
Lord Jesus, we lift before You our children, our students and schools for protection. Cover them with Your peace. May You open blind eyes and soften hardened hearts. Raise up a generation that walks in righteousness anchored in Your word and truth. Amen.
About the Author
Priscillia Ann David is a Malaysian from Ipoh, Perak. She is currently a teacher in Wesley Methodist School Penang (International) while pursuing her Master’s in Natural Product Research in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang.
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