NCJ Number
170382
Date Published
1994
Length
65 pages
Annotation
This manual explains how educators may unwittingly be enabling the problem of violence in schools and explains how to recognize and address enabling attitudes and behaviors.
Abstract
The text explains that school violence is a multifaceted problem that results from a combination of factors, including the disinhibition of children toward violence, the lack of a clear and universally accepted definition of violence, tolerance of violence, students' senses of entitlement to violence, and enabling. Schools' efforts to reduce violence have had limited effect due to their focus on only one or two facets of the problem. However, the enabling system created by administrators, teachers, other staff, parents, and students result in the pervasive attitudes of entitlement and tolerance of violence. An enabling system consists of all the misguided beliefs, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors that unwittingly allow and encourage student violence problems to continue or worsen by preventing those who engage in violence from understanding and experiencing the consequences of their behavior. The manual explains how enabling functions, the ways in which educators act as enablers, and specific actions to stop staff members' enabling behaviors. The discussion emphasizes the need for training, leadership, and support for change. Reference notes; lists of resource materials; and appended checklists for professionals, parents, and students