NCJ Number
178623
Date Published
1999
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This report presents the findings of the 1999 Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, which solicited teachers' perceptions of the level of violence in America's public schools.
Abstract
When compared to surveys of students and law enforcement officials, the findings show that teachers, students, and law enforcement officials all perceive that violence in schools is decreasing, along with a decrease in violence in society generally. Compared to 5 years ago, all three groups are more likely to believe that violence in public schools has decreased in the past year. Students are more likely now than 5 years ago to report feeling very safe when they are at school. Key aspects of students' and teachers' experiences with violence have remained the same or worsened in the past 5 years. Teachers in the current study are more likely than those 5 years ago to report having been the victim of violence in or around school. Although elementary school is perceived as a safer place, personal experience with violence does not support this view. Elementary school students and teachers are just as likely as those in secondary school to be the victims of a violent act. Although boys are more likely than girls to be victims of school violence, both boys and girls are equally likely to believe that violence levels have decreased in the past year. Students and teachers disagree on the causes of violence and the influence of role models on students' lives. Teachers view the causes of violence as residing in the family, with peers having the most influence as role models for students. Students, however, most often cite peer influence as a cause of violence and report that parents have the most influence as role models. Information is also provided on the work of the Metropolitan Life Foundation and MetLife. 21 figures