NCJ Number
48760
Journal
AMERICAN VOCATIONAL JOURNAL Volume: 51 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1976) Pages: 28-30
Date Published
1976
Length
3 pages
Annotation
HIGHLIGHTS FROM A CONFERENCE ON THE CAUSES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE ARE REPORTED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE ROLE OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN COMBATING SCHOOL VIOLENCE.
Abstract
AMONG CAUSES OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE IDENTIFIED ARE STUDENTS' IMPRESSION THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO, A SENSE OF FAILURE AND INABILITY AMONG SOME STUDENTS, AND THE SCHOOL'S FAILURE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CERTAIN STUDENTS. PARTICIPANTS NOTED SUCH CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AS RACIAL TENSION, DRUG USE, AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, BUT THEIR FOCUS WAS ON THE SCHOOL-RELATED CAUSES OF VIOLENCE, SUCH AS FAILURE TO DEMAND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM STUDENTS WHILE PROVIDING THEM A MEANS FOR ACHIEVING SUCCESS AND FAILING TO GIVE STUDENTS A SAY IN SCHOOL DECISIONMAKING. SOME PROPOSALS FOR ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM IMPLIED LARGE-SCALE EFFORTS AND EXPENDITURES (E.G., INSTITUTING ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOLS). SMALLER SCALE PROPOSALS INCLUDED INVOLVING STUDENTS IN SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONMAKING AND ABOLISHING PETTY RULES. CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS CONCLUDED THAT THERE ARE TWO BASIC WAYS OF DEALING WITH VIOLENCE: SHORT-RANGE SECURITY DEVICES AND LONG-RANGE CURRICULUM AND COUNSELING CHANGES. SOME PARTICIPANTS FELT THAT, BECAUSE SECURITY PROGRAMS ARE SO EXPENSIVE, THEY MAY BE DETERRENTS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LONGER RANGE APPROACHES DESIGNED TO COMBAT THE SOCIETAL AND SCHOOL-RELATED REASONS FOR VIOLENCE. FINANCIAL LIMITATIONS AND THE ATTITUDES OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND SCHOOL BOARDS WERE AMONG FACTORS IDENTIFIED AS STUMBLING BLOCKS TO REDUCING SCHOOL CRIME. THE CONFERENCE DEVELOPED A RESEARCH AGENDA FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING THE VICTIMS AND PERPETRATORS IN SCHOOL CRIME AND ON EXAMINING THE CAUSES OF VIOLENCE IN THE SCHOOLS. IT IS NOTED THAT VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE CAUSES OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE BY PREPARING STUDENTS TO HOLD RESPONSIBLE JOBS AND BY PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. (LKM)