Linking Academics and Social Learning: Perceptions of School Staff to a Violence Prevention Program at an Alternative School

• NCJ Number: 193866
• Journal: Journal of School Violence Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: 2002 Pages: 83-102
• Author(s): Ronnie Casella; Joan Burstyn
• Editor(s): Edwin R. Gerler Jr.
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 20 pages
• Grant Number(s): 97-MU-FX-KO12 (S-1)
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article focused on a violence prevention program in an alternative school for teenagers in upstate New York, and how the school staff conceptualized their work after having experienced at least 1 year of the violence prevention program.

Abstract

In a mid-size city in upstate New York, a violence prevention program for teenagers was established in an alternative school for weapon policy offenders. This article examined how the school staff conceptualized their work with these youth. The study was based on interviews with 22 staff members at the Garfield alternative school. It examined the intent of school staff, their ideas, perspectives, and language about youth, violence, and schooling. School staff highlighted what was needed for a successful violence prevention program. Staff were found to favor the program and saw daily benefits. They also made it clear that without the resources to educate properly, the best programs would have little effect. Teachers’ discussions raised the importance of linking social learning and academics. It was stressed that violence prevention was not only about preventing poor behavior by youth but an integral part of academics, including social learning. References