ALTERNATIVES TO THE PRESENT SYSTEM - WORKSHOP CONFERENCE ON VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM IN THE SCHOOLS, APRIL 29 - MAY 1, 1976

• NCJ Number: 35640
• Author(s): M MARVIN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 0 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-A-2788-1-A
• Sponsoring Agency: Kansas Governor's Cmtte on Criminal Admin
• Corporate Author: Kansas State University
• Sale Source: Kansas State University; Not Available Through National Institute of Justice/NCJRS Document Loan Program
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

A TAPE OF A CONFERENCE WORKSHOP IN WHICH THE SPEAKER OUTLINES THE METHODS AND RESULTS OF A LEAA-SPONSORED STUDY WHICH EXAMINED THE EXTENT OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND THE KINDS OF PROGRAMS UNDERTAKEN TO REDUCE THIS VIOLENCE.

Abstract

THE SPEAKER STATES THAT THE STUDY HAD THREE PURPOSES: TO ESTABLISH A WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEAA AND THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY, TO PROVIDE LEAA WITH INFORMATION FOR ITS OWN DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES, AND TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO LEAA ON WHAT IT CAN DO TO TREAT THE PROBLEM OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE. FIVE MAJOR ACTIVITIES WERE UNDERTAKEN IN THE STUDY: 1) FORMATION OF AN ADVISORY GROUP OF THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY; 2) A LITERATURE REVIEW ON THE PROBLEM; 3) A TELEPHONE SURVEY OF EDUCATORS TO OBTAIN THEIR OPINIONS ON THE SCHOOL VIOLENCE PROBLEM; 4) WORKING CONFERENCES OF THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM AND ITS SOLUTIONS; AND 5) A REVIEW OF EXISTING FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO FIND SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH SCHOOL VIOLENCE. THE STUDY FOUND THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR A DEFINITION OF THE SCHOOL VIOLENCE PROGRAM AT THE LOCAL LEVEL; EACH DISTRICT HAS ITS OWN PROBLEMS WHICH CAN ONLY BE DEFINED AND SOLVED WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY. APPROACHES TO THE VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM PROBLEM WERE FOUND IN ALL SIZES OF SCHOOLS. MOST PROGRAMS COULD BE CLASSIFIED INTO FOUR MAIN TYPES: SECURITY SYSTEMS, COUNSELING PROGRAMS, CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION PROGRAMS, OR ORGANIZATIONAL MODIFICATION. MOST EDUCATORS THOUGHT THAT LEAA COULD BE OF HELP IN PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING PROMISING APPROACHES AND IN TRAINING PEOPLE IN THESE APPROACHES. BASED ON THE STUDY, THE SPEAKER OUTLINES A THREE-TIERED APPROACH TO SCHOOL VIOLENCE WHICH WOULD INVOLVE A NATIONAL LEVEL TO COLLECT INFORMATION AND IDENTIFY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SOURCES; A REGIONAL LEVEL TO PROVIDE THE PROCESS ON PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION; AND A LOCAL LEVEL TO DEFINE THE PROBLEM AND OPERATE THE PROGRAMS. THE SPEAKER ALSO PRESENTS SEVERAL SAMPLE SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS WHICH WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE STUDY. AN EXTENSIVE QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD IS INCLUDED IN THE TAPE. MOST OF THE QUESTIONS ARE INAUDIBLE DUE TO THE QUALITY OF THE RECORDING. FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES OF TAPES FROM THE VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM CONFERENCE, SEE NCJ-35621, 3562335627, 35629-35635, 35637, 35638, AND 35640-35645.