a common sight: conflict at schools ((photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org)

After Erfurt, Emsdetten another school killing shocks Germany and the world. 17 year old Tim Kretschmer fired off around 60 bullets and killed 16 people including himself. He used the gun of his father he found between 17 other firearms at home. Yesterday's incident in Winnenden, near Stuttgart, brought up a lot of questions and new discussions on how to treat and handle this problem. Parents and politicians are struggling to find the answers on how to prevent these occurrences. These range from blaming violent video-games and movies, banning the possession of guns, to simply saying the parents are to blame.

Nevertheless all of these killing teenagers seem to have one thing in common. The children seem to be filled with bitterness, anger and frustration. This is also confirmed by Dr. Christian Böhm. The head of Hamburgs violence prevention and school psychologist agrees that it is  "important that these young persons have someone to talk to instead of boiling up inside". Often parents have difficulties getting to their teenage children and this is where guidance teachers become important.

In order to know how to talk to suffering teenagers these guidance teachers need to go through an additional two year training. Often nevertheless they are not looked up by the pupils until it is too late.

Therefore the city of Hamburg introduced a new project two years ago. This compulsory project is set out to show fifth and sixth graders in what ways bullying can cause damage to the victim. The school psychologist sees it necessary that this project is offered nationwide. He nevertheless admits that pupils often miss out the existence of these guidance teachers. Information centres such as „REBUS“ which should help pupils are mainly called by teachers and parents. Counselors and helping lines simply "would have to try and be more present", says Böhm.

 Police arrested the girl's mother and her partner shortly after finding the dead girl in her room in their Wilhelmsburg flat (Photo: www.wikipedia.de)

When firemen entered a top-floor flat in Wilhelmsburg on Wednesday, they encountered a terrible scene: A nine-month old baby lying lifeless on the floor of her dirty room. The firemen, who had responded to an emergency call of the girl's eighteen-year-old mother, immediately tried to revive the little, girl, but it was already too late: The nine-month old Lara was dead.