NCJ Number
49756
Editor(s)
R J RUBEL
Date Published
1978
Length
51 pages
Annotation
SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS AND PASSAGES OF THE SAFE SCHOOL STUDY ARE PRESENTED, AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE FIRST PART OF THE MONOGRAPH IS A REPRINT OF A SECTION OF THE SAFE SCHOOL STUDY THAT TELLS OF WAYS IN WHICH SCHOOLS CAN IMMEDIATELY REDUCE VIOLENCE IN THEIR BUILDINGS. A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF DATA, USING MULTIVARIATE FACTORS, WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE SCHOOL'S ROLE IN REDUCING CRIME AND MISBEHAVIOR. SEVERAL THEMES WERE FOUND TO HAVE RELATIONSHIP TO THE EXTENT OF SAFETY IN SCHOOLS: (1) THE SIZE AND IMPERSONALITY OF THE SCHOOL; (2) THE CHARACTER OF THE SCHOOL'S DISCIPLINARY POLICIES; (3) STUDENT FRUSTRATION WITH ARBITRARY OR NEEDLESSLY PUNITIVE RULES; (4) THE SCHOOL'S STRUCTURE OF INCENTIVES; (5) THE RELEVANCE OF THE EDUCATION TO THE CHILDREN'S NEEDS; AND (6) PERCEIVED ALIENATION. THE SECOND PART OF THE MONOGRAPH PRESENTS A SELECTION OF FINDINGS FROM THE STUDY AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. IT IS NOTED THAT ONLY ABOUT 8 PERCENT OF ALL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS REPORT SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND THAT THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE IS MORE PREDOMINANT BY PERCENTAGE IN URBAN SCHOOLS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY GREATER NUMERICALLY. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT SCHOOL VIOLENCE CAN BE AFFECTED THROUGH EFFORTS OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATORS AND THAT THE LARGE PROPORTION OF VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM IS NOT COMMITTED BY 'OUTSIDERS.' SPECIAL FINDINGS OF INTEREST TO TEACHERS AND TO ADMINISTRATORS ARE DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM RESPONSE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE MAJOR POINTS FROM THE STUDY DATA FINDINGS ARE THAT: FEAR OF CRIME IS MORE DAMAGING AND MORE PERVASIVE THAN ACTUAL CRIMINAL ACTS; MULTIPLE VICTIMIZATION -- PARTICULARLY OF TEACHERS -- IS EASILY OBSERVED, AND IT DESERVES MUCH MORE ATTENTION THAN IT CURRENTLY RECEIVES; AND ALTHOUGH CRIMES TEND TO OCCUR IN SCHOOLS REGARDLESS OF THEIR LOCATION, WHEN THE MAGNITUDE OF GIVEN EVENTS IS CONSIDERED, THE PROBLEMS ARE CLEARLY MORE SERIOUS IN LARGE CITIES. (DAG)