NCJ Number
127112
Journal
School Safety Dated: (Fall 1990) Pages: 20-21
Date Published
1990
Length
2 pages
Annotation
Teachers and administrators need to know some general guidelines for breaking up a fight between students either in the classroom or on campus.
Abstract
Most fights can be stopped by using a very stern, loud voice and demanding that the fight stop immediately. However, this does not always work, and such a situation can be greatly intensified if not handled properly. A school security officer or other trained individual should be summoned to separate the combatants when verbal efforts to stop the fight fail. Great caution should be used in attempting to physically break up a fight. Negotiation and persuasion are the best survival tools against a weapon-wielding assailant. Another concern both teachers and staff members often have voiced centers around the issue of personal safety. The key element is to avoid solitude and isolation. Any type of disturbance on a school campus should be handled as an opportunity for creating an even more positive school climate. Communication with staff, students, and the community is the key to maintaining such a climate.