Violence in schools is a problem that Americans have had to face at an ever increasing rate. Instead of fistfights, the issues are fatal, like school shootings. Violence is nationally defined as a physical force used to injure, damage or destroy (Guralnik, D., 1997, P.1490). In the past decade, students are using more than physical force. They are using deadly weapons to injure or kill their peers and authority figures, and to destroy school property. Safety is considered to be the freedom from danger and injury damage (Guralnik, D., 1997, P.1181); in other words, freedom from violence. Schools must ensure students and parents that above adequate measures -especially the three most successful- will be provided to make sure schools are safe.
Violence has always been an issue among youths in the United States. Until recently, violence and aggression in American schools, in contrast to the more generic topic of youth violence, was not a focus of extensive scholarly research (Gottesman, R., 1999, P.357). It is an utter horror that the violence occurring on the streets has slowly made its way into the classroom. The 1997-1998 school year served as a dramatic wake-up call that guns are accessible to teens and they will use them to kill. Prior to the 1990s the general public rarely discussed or were affected by school related violence.
It seemed to be expected in certain parts of the country-urban areas- but was never thought to reach to suburban and rural schools. Starting in late 1997, a chain reaction of appalling incidents spread from state to state. Following each tragedy was increased media attention and public awareness to this growing issue. Endless images of weeping parents and children were seen on every news...
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Wallace, J., Fravil, K., and Behre, W., (1997). Social Work. School Social Workers and School Violence: Personal Safety, Training, and Violence Programs, 43, (3), 223-231.
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Simmson, B. (1994). School Violence to School Safety. School Psychology, 23, (2), 236-256.
Sandell, A. (2000). Alex 2000. Retrieved April 24, 2003, from the World Wide Web: http://www.juicycerebellum.com/debate2.htm.
Dwyer, K., Osher, D., and Warger, C. (1998, August). Early warning, timely response: A guide to safe schools. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved April 29, from the World Wide Web: http://cecp.air.org/guide/earlywarning.htm.
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2002). Are America’s Schools Safe? Students Speak Out: 1999 School Crime Supplement. Retrieved April 28, 2005 from http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp/pubid=2002331.
Three-section manuscript written by Rosalind Duplechain and Robert Morris, associates of education in the University of Georgia. The article is based from the field of education the document three subject terms throughout all three sections. The terms consist of safety measures in schools, school environment and its effect on school shooters, and school violence. Section one of the manuscript provides historical data of undocumented shootings that have taken place in schools within the United States. Section two lists numerous factors related to school shooters. Section three notes a series of strategies for making schools safer from shootings.
“Guns Among Young People in the U.S.” 1993. Youth Record. Washington, D.C.: Youth Policy Institute. (Aug. 3): 10.
It seems to go hand in hand that while people are being convinced that school murders are occurring more frequently, various types of school violence also seem to be rising. This is once again a myth. The United States Departments of Education and Justice distributed a survey to students both in 1989 and 1995. It was reported that the students only felt a .1% increase in the total level of victimization (Kappeler, 188). As a matter of fact, only one in ten public schools report any sort of violence at all (Kappeler, 189).
Crime in the 21st century has evolved from what it was in the past. One major crime that has been occurring more and more are public school shootings. A school shooting is an incident in which gun violence occurs at a school. School shootings have occurred since the early 1760’s but lately there have been an abundant amount of them happening. This crime not only puts people’s lives in danger, but it also takes a toll on the people that went through it. There have been more than 40 plus shootings throughout America, which will continue to increase, alone from the time span of 2000 to 2014 (present.) Now schools throughout the country are going over what they are going to do in a crisis situation. Recently there has been many school shootings which have raised awareness. Schools are frequently modifying and improving the things that they do to make things safer. It is a crime that has been take...
Koch, Kathy. "School Violence: Are American Schools Safe?" 9 October 1998: 32. CQ Researcher. 30 Nov 2009.
It is true that due to the positive learning atmosphere, schools have been regarded as a safe place for many years. Even today students and parents believe that schools are safe. If violence is increasing in youth culture, schools would be considered a dangerous place, but yet it remains known as secure. In addition, security has increased tremendously, within airports, major league sporting events, and upgraded police surveillance at American schools. Knowing this a logical assumption would be that violence has decreased. However, in my opinion, youth’s culture is changing and as a result violence is rising.
All around the world, there is violence in schools that is so serious many students, teachers, and other staff members get seriously injured, or even killed. In the United States, there have been really serious school massacres that have killed and severely injured many students and staff members. Technology is increasing and people are finding more ways to get into trouble, the principal one being violence with weapons. Most buildings, including schools, have minimum or even no security and almost anybody can make their way in and out of the premises without being arrested. The goal of this paper is to let readers know that security is a key factor, particularly in schools.
In today’s world some students of all ages have experienced the tragedy and devastation of mass school shootings. Kids go to school in order to receive education; they shouldn’t have to worry about their safety. Today in America, there are numerous amounts of shootings that occur on school grounds. It has been recorded that “the number of school shootings in 2015 has climbed to 52, with 30 people dead and 53 others injured” (Rt.com). Schools need to step up their security and ensure the safety and well being of their student body.
In order to solve the problem of violence in schools, we must first find out who the problem is. Being that not every teenager is prone to participate in such violent acts as what happened at Columbine, there must be specific environment imposed on a particular biology to turn a teenager into an Eric Harris or a Dylan Klebold. These are not normal, healthy teenagers, and they don’t just become killers overnight. They become killers because they are already deeply disturbed individuals who can be sent over the edge by all sorts of innocuous influences. Violent teens often have specific characteristics that put them at high risk for committing these crimes. These high risked students may display some of the following traits. First, violent students often indicate their intentions before acting violently through drawings or writings. (Juhnke et. Al., 1999) They also make threats of violence towards others. Next, students prone to violent behavior tend to have a history of violence or aggression. (Juhnke et. Al., 1999) This may include other students, boyfriends/girlfriends, and animals. Violent students often have hypersensitivity toward criticism. (Juhnke et. Al., 1999) These students report perceptions of being teased, harassed or being picked on by those they were violent toward. This tormenting can also cause a student to isolate him or herself and withdrawal from friends and family, which is another sign that something is wrong. Another fairly obvious characteristic includes those children who are inappropriately given accress to firearms. (Juhnke et. Al., 1999) When students are given a gun, it gives them a sense of power. Some choose to take advantage of that power, as we have seen in numerous high school shoot...
In recent years, tragedies have been visited upon schools across the country. From Kentucky to Oregon to Colorado, the notion of schools as safe havens has been shattered by the sound of gunfire. These acts are not limited to any geographic regions or family backgrounds, nor do they have a single catalyst. Those who have committed such heinous acts have done so for different reasons, at different times, in different schools. But these acts of school violence have at least one thing in common- they have spurred all of us to take a look at what can be done to better protect children and teachers at school. Protecting our children is not simply a matter of public policy. It is a matter of strengthening basic values, of teaching children right from wrong, of instilling in them respect for others. We each have a responsibility to work to end youth violence and to keep schools safe for children and for those who teach them. Youth violence in many schools has reached universal proportions. It is not only happening in our high schools, it has also made its way into our elementary and middle schools. Everyone seems to have a different perspective on why there is such a problem with school safety. Some say it is the parents’ fault, some say it is the media, and others blame the schools. Yet, the question still remains. What can be done to make schools safer for the children and staff? One thing we need to do is learn to listen to our children and observe their behavior. According ...
The issue of school safety has become a controversial topic in the United States, due to tragic acts of violence occurring on a daily basis. American citizens should never have to cope with the negative impact of school violence, no matter how often they hear about the tragedies (Jones, "Parents" 1). In the past, schools were viewed as a safe place for children to get an education. Recently, the concern over violence in schools has taken a toll on many parents, school administrators, and legislatures (Eckland 1). Studies have shown that there are over 3 million acts of violence in American public schools each year. Not all occurrences are serious and deadly, but they occur on a daily basis throughout our country (Jones, “School” 6). This has caused many parents to worry about the well-being of their children while they are in class. This has also led to an increase in questions and concerns by parents and guardians. Many people have asked, “What are you doing about safety and security on my child’s campus” (Schimke 2). School violence is the cause of elevated worry and fear for their children, and school districts should enforce better security.
The United States is facing an epidemic of seriously violent crimes in middle schools and high schools across the country. At least fifty people have died due to a series of high school shootings. These shooting rampages have occurred across the United States in 13 cities ranging from Pennsylvania to southern Mississippi and to western California. Just when the murder rampages seem to be subsiding, another tragedy occurs. Preventive measures have been taken by the government and school systems. For instance, in 1994, Congress passed the Drug-Free Schools and Community Act, which provides for support of drug and violence prevention programs. However, these programs have not been effective in taming the ferocious dispositions of the particular young kids who have participated in these shooting rampages. Therefore, parents, school officials, and the government are still left wondering what is the cause of the horrific violence and how can they solve the problem.
Violence in American schools has triggered debates on the root cause of student’s anger and aggressive behavior and proposed proactive solutions.
Violence in schools has spread widely throughout the nation. This has caused many problems among students, families, faculty of schools, and residents of the areas. However, there are many possible ways we can stop all this violence in schools. Almost three-fourths of the United States teens are afraid of violent crime amongst their peers (Apfel 23). Violence in schools has become a big problem in todays society. With all the people being injured or killed in schools by guns and other weapons, more and more people are getting more weapons to bring in to schools. Nearly half of all males and one-third of all students including females said they could easily obtain a handgun if they wanted to (Glazer 14).