NCJ Number
141658
Journal
School Safety Dated: (Winter 1993) Pages: 20-24
Date Published
1993
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The spread of violence in schools, in society, and in the lives of students has profound implications for education and educators.
Abstract
Child abuse and criminal behavior by and against students entail complex dealings with courts, clinics, social service agencies, and the criminal justice system and require seemingly endless negotiations and paperwork. Community violence and domestic violence are widely acknowledged. However, the self-destructive violence of the mass media youth culture has barely been recognized, although it may be just as destructive as the others in the schools and society. Our commitment to educational goals requires us to pay close attention to violence in students' lives. The psychological trauma caused by violence must be the focus of our efforts. Specific actions to cope with the rise of violence include establishing a policy that people in schools shall be assured of personal safety, listening to students and actively involving them in plans to reduce violence, acknowledging the problem, and obtaining reliable information about violence. In addition, efforts to build attachment and trust between students and their schools, appropriate discipline, stability, love high expectations, effective school security procedures, and mediation programs can all help give students confidence that they are safe from harm when in school.