I would never advocate homeschooling for everyone. I'd simply prefer to see all education sold on the private market. So, schools would still be an option; no doubt, there would be an even greater variety of them. They just wouldn't be run by the state.
Of course, that wouldn't solve the problem of these monsters targeting any place where children are. And I understand the importance of self-protection. I just always wonder at the idea that schools are so necessary for children to learn, that even in a climate of rampant violence, we have to continue to send them there.
Eons ago, I went to the type of high school where the teachers were afraid of the students. A lot of the students were afraid of each other, too. Eventually, it did become like a prison. There were so many drugs passed around outside, that the whole school was banned from going outside at any time during the schoolday, even lunchtime. There were (unarmed) security guards there, and one used to participate in the drug activity with the students.
With all the fear and conflict, it was not the best learning environment. I can't even begin to imagine what it's like today in school. The violence seems to be escalating, and I wonder how much longer parents will put up with it all.
See that is still largely up to the student. As I may have mentioned I teach in a fairly violent inner city school. Most of the violence that is not gang related comes from the severely handicapped kids (the Autistics) or the normal (ain't no such critter) 9th grader. Still, we graduate folks with the distinction of the Silver Knight Award, we send folks to the finest Ivy League schools with full scholarships and we even have kids do well on the A.P. exams.