NCJ Number
213617
Journal
Journal of School Violence Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: 2005 Pages: 85-104
Date Published
2005
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the findings from interviews with members of the "women's community" (participants in such programs as women's centers and sexual assault crisis centers) located in Atlantic Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick) who have been involved in developing violence prevention programs in schools, with attention to their perceptions of successes and challenges.
Abstract
School violence programs in which the women had been involved focused on bullying, sexual harassment, gender sensitivity awareness, dating violence prevention, assertiveness training, body-image awareness, and resource preparation. Although the women were somewhat frustrated with the schools' implementation of proposed violence prevention programs, the majority were pleased that most schools were willing to expose the students to violence prevention programming. The women were in agreement that school violence is a symptom of a broader problem of violence in the community, which requires a comprehensive response that goes beyond the school setting. Teachers were viewed as key personnel in program implementation because of their communication skills and familiarity with diverse teaching methods. The women viewed their own roles as activists, researchers, and volunteers as needing more visibility, accessibility, and credibility. Recommendations offered in the interviews pertain to the role of the school and the role of the "women's community." The 18 women interviewed were members of local community organizations that included women's centers, regional antiviolence committees, parents' groups, sexual assault crisis centers, boys' and girls' clubs, and legal information committees. This article focuses on the findings of interviews with three women from sexual assault crisis centers and five women from women's centers. 26 references