Juvenile Violence Is Not a Serious Problem in the Schools (From Juvenile Crime: Opposing Viewpoints, P 36-40, 1997, A E Sadler, ed. -- See NCJ-167319)

• NCJ Number: 167322
• Author(s): D Aleem; O Moles; J Portner
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: Greenhaven Press
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Based on an analysis of relevant data, this paper argues that violence in schools is an uncommon event that involves a small percentage of students.

Abstract

Part I of this paper presents statistics to show that violent incidents in the public schools are relatively rare and that the majority of delinquent acts are committed by a small minority of students. In a 1991 national survey, only 2 percent of teachers reported being physically attacked; 8 percent were threatened with injury in the previous 12 months. Serious discipline problems are more common; 19 percent of the teachers reported being verbally abused by a student in the previous 4 weeks. Physical conflict among students was viewed as a serious or moderate problem by 28 percent of the teachers. Accounts from adolescent students of being victims of violent acts in schools vary widely, and the method of collecting information is probably a factor in these disparities. Four-to six-month rates range from 2 percent assaulted based on a household survey of 12- to 19-year- olds to 23 percent of eighth graders who had fought with another student, based on school questionnaires. Part II of this paper argues that students feel safer at schools than they have in the past, possibly due to the educational system's efforts to combat school violence and to teachers' efforts to build constructive relationships with students. Students who report that their teachers treat them with respect are twice as likely as other students to report fewer fights and turf battles, and better relations among students.