NCJ Number
156716
Date Published
1995
Length
236 pages
Annotation
This study examined the nature of school-based violence prevention policies and programs in Canada, based on a literature review and systematic analysis of a national sample of 116 school board violence prevention policies and programs.
Abstract
Results indicated a tremendous amount of activity within the educational community to understand and come to terms with the issue of school-based violence and to identify and implement effective violence prevention strategies. With regard to specific components, nearly all school boards included a statement concerning student suspension and expulsion. Other areas that school boards focused on included delegating administrative responsibilities, communicating policy information, and promoting a positive school climate. Most school board documents reviewed in the survey consisted of policy statements about specific infractions. Typically, these infractions included physical assault, verbal harassment, intimidation and bullying, threats, and weapons. Survey respondents identified a need for more staff training opportunities in the areas of school violence and violence prevention, high-quality evaluations of policies and programs, and good methods to report school-based violent incidents. School boards determined that policies should be internally consistent, be congruent with violence prevention programs, be comprehensive, have a community focus, and be compatible with supplemental programs for aggressive and violent students. School boards also felt that violence prevention strategies should address root causes of violence, that is, biological, familial, environmental, social, and academic factors that place juveniles at risk. Appendixes contain supplemental information on school violence programs and procedural aspects of the survey and include a directory of school board policies and programs. References, tables, and figures