Violence

Keeping School Safe Objective 1: Describe factors that play a role in school violence. Objective 2: Determine actions that individuals, schools, and communities can take to reduce violence.

Fact or Myth? Question: Most acts of violence are committed by strangers, often as a part of robberies or other crimes. Myth: Almost half of all homicides, a large number of rapes and assaults, and all acts of family violence are committed by people who know their victims.

Fact or Myth? Question: Using violence can be an effective way to solve a problem. Myth: Although violence might offer a temporary solution to a problem, it always creates more problems than it solves. Even when you win a fight, injuries, feeling of guilt, fear of revenge, fear of jail are some consequences you may face.

Question: The best way to protect yourself from violence is by carrying a weapon. Myth: Victims who are armed with weapons are twice as likely to be killed as are unarmed victims. Instead of cooperating with an assailant, the armed victim might hesitate or attempt a heroic act, which often leads to a worse outcome.

Fact or Myth? Question: Most violence is racially motivated. Violent acts usually occur between people of different races. Myth: About ninety percent of all homicides are of the same race as their killers.

Question: Certain racial groups are more violent than others. Myth: Although some racial groups are represented in higher numbers of violence statistics, the reasons have to do with poverty, not race. Comparisons of poor communities with very different racial makeup's reveal that homicide rates are similarly high.

Question: Youth gangs are responsible for the majority of homicides. Myth: Only about 3 percent of all homicides are gang-related. In comparison, 12 percent of homicides are committed by family members. In many urban areas, however, gang violence is a serious and rapidly growing problem.

Vocabulary words Homicide: The intentional killing of one person by another. Victim: The person who is attacked and harmed physically. Assailant: The person who physically attacks and harms another person.

Class Debate! Question: Do you believe that the media (t.v. shows, news, video games, etc.) influences people to perform violent acts?

Videos n%3fsource=search_video n%3fsource=search_video – Manhunt 2 video game &tag=mncol;lst;1 - Laws on violent video games n&tag=mncol;lst;5 – Psychological Study