NCJ Number
44081
Date Published
1977
Length
172 pages
Annotation
THIS OVERVIEW OF SCHOOL CRIME AND VIOLENCE EXAMINES ITS RELATIONSHIP TO PERSONAL, HOME, AND COMMUNITY DISCIPLINE, LOOKS AT ROLES OF TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AS PART OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEN MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS.
Abstract
BOTH PHYSICAL SECURITY MEASURES AND POSITIVE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE NEEDED IF SCHOOLS ARE TO COUNTERACT THE RISING TIDE OF VANDALISM, ASSAULT, AND OTHER SCHOOL-RELATED CRIME. THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ISSUE MEANS THAT IT CANNOT BE SOLVED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, BY THE COURTS, OR BY SOCIAL AGENCIES ALONE. TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS HAVE MERELY REACTED TO THE POSSIBLE VIOLENCE IN THEIR SCHOOL. TO REDUCE SCHOOL CRIME, THE ADMINISTRATOR MUST CONSIDER HIMSELF THE SCHOOL'S CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER. HE MUST HUMANIZE THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AND INFUSE MEANING INTO THE CURRICULUM BECAUSE VANDALISM INCREASES WHEN STUDENTS FEEL ALIENATED FROM THE CLASSROOM. HOWEVER, HE MUST ALSO TAKE DUE CARE TO SAFEGUARD PERSONNEL AND PROPERTY THROUGH APPROPRIATE SECURITY MEASURES. TEACHERS MUST RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESS CHARGES AGAINST THOSE WHO ASSAULT THEM. SELF-HELP PROGRAMS USED SUCCESSFULLY BY MANY SCHOOLS TO PROTECT TEACHERS AGAINST ASSAULT ARE DESCRIBED. AMONG RECOMMENDATIONS MADE ARE STATUTORY PROTECTION FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND TOUGHER LAWS WHICH WILL ALLOW TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO DEAL WITH ABUSIVE LANGUAGE AND CONDUCT. INSERVICE EDUCATION ON DELINQUENCY AND CRIME PREVENTION SHOULD BE REQUIRED. THE ENTIRE SCHOOL STAFF, INCLUDING SECRETARIES AND JANITORS, SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THESE TRAINING SESSIONS. TEACHERS SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF THE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PART THEIR OWN ATTITUDES AND REACTIONS HAVE IN PROVOKING VIOLENCE AND OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING A HUMAN CLIMATE IN THE CLASSROOM. A SERIES OF EIGHT PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS IS THEN MADE WITH EXAMPLES OF IMPLEMENTATION.