Violence in Schools
What can we do?
Recent Concern
"During the past decade, schools have become unfortunate targets for the rage of very disturbed students who seek to redress their grievances through acts of violence directed against innocent students and educators."
The American Psychological Association (1993) identified four causal factors for youth violence:
Early involvement with drugs and alcohol
Easy access to weapons, especially handguns
Depiction of violent acts in the media
Association with antisocial groups
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Secure the school
Address the peer culture and its problems
Involve parents in making the school safer
Create a positive, inclusive school culture
Develop a written school-safety and crisis response plan