Violence in schools is endangering the health, welfare, and safety of students and teachers across the U.S. School Violence

School violence is a subset of youth violence, a broader public health problem. Violence is the intentional use of physical force or power, against another person, group, or community, with the behavior likely to cause physical or psychological harm. What is School Violence?

Reason why school violence occurs: 1. Gang related violence 2. Drug related violence 3. Psychological Problems 4. Bullying/ Hazing 5. Social Groups

Preventing School Violence -Toughening weapons laws Leaders should start advocating for state officials and school board members to address violence in schools. In most states implementing violent behavior, especially possession of weapons and initiation of a parent responsibility law for minors possessing weapons.

Establishing weapon free school zones School board members in many states have made their schools a weapon free zone. Efforts to do so have involved the help from the school, home, community, law enforcement and health services. The board of education determines that possession and/or use of a weapon by a student is detrimental to the welfare and safety of the student and school personnel within the district.

A report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicates that, in the past year, one quarter (26.7 percent) of adolescent girls participated in a serious fight at school or work, group-against- group fight, or an attack on others with the intent to inflict serious harm. Student Violence

Dealing with violent students Students are less likely to learn when they feel harm from other classmates. Along with teachers are not able to teach in an atmosphere of fear for their own safety. In order to provide a safe and secure learning atmosphere of fear for children, school districts must be able to expel violent students; transfer violent students to alternative schools or report violent actions.

Take privileges away from students School administrators must have the authority to act immediately in ways that restrict meaningful student privileges. Such as to suspend parking, extracurricular activities, and sport privileges.

Health Affects of School Violence Physical A number of students seek medical care for nonfatal, violence-related injuries. Some of these injuries are relatively minor and include cuts, bruises, and broken bones. Other injuries, like gunshot wounds and head trauma, are more serious and can lead to permanent disability.

Health Affects of School Violence Mental Not all injuries are visible. Exposure to youth violence and school violence can lead to a wide array of negative health outcomes. Depression, anxiety, and many other psychological problems, including fear, can result from school violence.

Start Preventing School Violence

What are schools doing to improve safety? Faced with intense public pressure, school administrators are taking action and implementing programs designed to curb school violence. These programs include: Physical surveillance, including weapons deterrence and the presence of security guards or officers on campus School policies designed to prevent violence by punishing those who perpetrate violence Instruction-based programs designed to address the precursors of violence, including bullying Profiling of potentially violent individuals Counseling at-risk students Conflict mediation and resolution.

Talk To Your Kids It's important for kids to feel like they can share their feelings, and know that their fears and anxieties are understandable. Rather than waiting for your child to approach you, consider starting the conversation. Ask kids what they understand about these incidents and how they feel about them. Share your own feelings too — during a tragedy, kids may look to adults for their reactions. It helps kids to know that they are not alone in their anxieties. Knowing that their parents have similar feelings will help kids legitimize their own. At the same time, kids often need parents to help them feel safe. It may help to discuss in concrete terms what you have done and what the school is doing to help protect its students.

In 2007, a nationwide survey of students in grades 9-12 reported the following risk behaviors: 5.9% of students carried a weapon (e.g., a gun, knife, or club) on school property during the 30 days before the survey. 7.8% of students were threatened or injured with a weapon on school property during the 12 months before the survey. 12.4% of students were in a physical fight on school property during the 12 months before the survey. 22.3% of students were offered, sold, or given an illegal drug by someone on school property during the 12 months before the survey. Nation Wide Survey

Statistics In 2010 U.S. Spent $12 billion on troubled children and youth. More than 160,000 children skip school every day because they feel threatened by another student. Some 46 percent of schools reported at least one student threat of physical attack without a weapon, compared to 8 percent of schools reported such a threat with a weapon. Some 10 percent of city schools reported at least one gang-related crime,3 a higher percentage than that reported by suburban (5 percent), town (4 percent), or rural schools (2 percent). During the 2009–10 school year, the rate of violent incidents2 per 1,000 students was higher in middle schools (40 incidents) than in primary schools or high schools (21 incidents each).

Sources: Turkem, Ayse. "School Violence:To what extent do Perceptions of Problem Solving Skills Protect Adolescents?." Educational Sciences (2011): Blosnich, john. "Low-Level Violence in Schools:Is There an Assocation Between School Saftey Measures and Peer victimization?." Journal of School Health (2011): Johnson, sarah. "Improving the Enviroment to Reduce School Violence:A Review of the Literature." Journal of School Health (2009): Grunseit, Anne. "Correlates of of phyical violence at school:A multilevel analysis of Australian high school students." Australian journal of social issues (2008):

Sources: Akiba, Motoko. "Academic differentition,school achievement and school violence in the USA and south korea." Dept. of educatiol leadership (2007): Delucla, janice. "Predicting school violence: comparison of violent and nonviolent male students on attitudes toward violence,exposure level to violence,and and ptsd symptomatology." Phychology in the schools (2006):

By: Jordan Deckard