Over the past several years, an epidemic of school violence has overtaken our nation. From monthly shootings, to daily bomb threats around the country, violence is becoming more and more common in schools. It is typical to hear about acts of violence among our youth everyday on the news. Although more numerous in cities, this violence does not discriminate against inner city or suburban areas; it happens everywhere. When addressing this quick spread of crime, one can inquire as to its history and why it happens, myths about school violence, and how was can taper it, by the use of technology.
History of School Violence
The history of violence in schools has no set pattern, but statistics report back to the 1970s. In 1978, a
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3 Practical School Security). This is not the case; while there are problems that are “normal,” sometimes they are not handled correctly or thoroughly. Often things are handled administratively but not given to law enforcements to deal with. For instance, if theft occurs in the school, the law should be involved, due to the fact that theft is against the law. However, this is not the case in a lot of school systems. Young adults then may get the notion that is “ok” to steal, vandalize, and be aggressive towards one another with no consequences. Sometimes, if a young adult commits a crime, there needs to be more of a consequence then simply being suspended from school. The school systems reason for not reporting crimes has to do alot with politics. The administration does not want bad publicity, or they “fear for being blamed and not doing their job correctly” (23). Another major reason for not reporting school-based crimes is the media. If there is violence in a school, it will be publicized in the media. In reality, the school system needs to be on the same page with the police, so they can help one another out.
The top five issues that are capturing the attention of the U.S. is “aggression and violent behavior, drugs, weapons, gangs, and ‘Stranger danger’” (p.5) These are the issues that have parents concerned, rather than the vandalism or the one on one fights. One of the most
Violence in society is increasing dramatically and not only is it out in the streets, but it’s in the school systems as well. However, school violence has been becoming more and more of a problem all over the nation in the past several years. School violence needs to stop because no one should be afraid to go to school without feeling like it’ll be their last day.
A sudden increase of youth violence in public schools in early 1990 has caused many to raise concerns about violent behaviors in schools. In the past, the most common form of violence that took place in schools was bullying, physical fights, or
Since the establishment of public education in the United States, schools have provided a sense of security and belonging to their students. Although sitting through lectures and doing homework may not be the most exciting thing in the world, students will always have a lunch to eat, a roof over their head, and a supportive teacher or counselor that they can talk to. Despite the “safe” environment and presence of authoritative figures on school campuses, trouble always finds a way to break out. Simple misbehaving and occasional fights are a common occurrence on most school campuses, however a new breed of troublesome and violent students has hatched. The
Schools are no longer a safe havens for furthering knowledge; instead violence is occurring at alarming rates. Common occurrences in schools include: physical altercations, severe property damage, and bullying behaviors. According to “ThefutureofChidren.org,” youth violence in schools costs the public 158 billion dollars each year. In this decade, that rate of children inflicting violence on other children and teachers is staggering. Today’s teachers are being trained on gun safety, school lobbies are being installed with bullet proof glass, and counselors hold
Violence in schools encompasses a number of different acts. Whether it’s physical or emotional bullying or even cyber-bullying; violence within schools is a major problem and it’s only increasing. However in a number of cases these may only be the beginning. Sometimes people take it a step further and actually bring a firearm into the school and start shooting it. Unfortunately school shootings have occurred throughout the country at an alarming rate. When someone shoots another (especially within the confines of a school) everyone is effected by this immense act of violence.
Teen Violence is a big dilemma in today’s society. Violent behaviors usually start from family and peers, as well as teens observing it at there neighborhoods or communities. These behaviors are reinforced by what youth see on television, on the Internet, in video games, movies, music videos, and what they hear in their music. When children are disciplined with severe corporal punishment or verbal abuse, or when they are physically or sexually abused, or when they witness such behavior in their home, it is not surprising that they behave violently toward others. Teen Violence has had such an impact in our youth today that it leads many destructive things and that’s why we have so much violence today.
These principals were asked to list what they considered serious or moderate problems in their schools. The most frequently cited problems at all levels were the less violent behaviors such as tardiness (40%), absenteeism (25%), and physical conflicts between students (21%). The NCES report found that violent crimes occurred at an annual rate of only 53 per 100,000 students. The critical incidents that are typically the focus of school safety debates were reported to be at least "a moderate problem”: drug use (9%), gangs (5%), possession of weapons (2%), and physical abuse of teachers (2%). The continued use of this of this policy is mainly due to the perception of violence in schools continually being exacerbated by extended media coverage when isolated events of school violence occur according to Martinez
This collection of opposing views on school shootings shows different topics and situations as to why shootings occur on school grounds. For example, one topic discusses how bullying is a common denominator in nearly all school shootings. This finding differs from the rest due to the fact that it discusses different reasons as to why school shootings
School violence can be prevented by parents, communities, teachers, and even classmates can help reduce violence and improve the overall school environment, Also, education and consequences must occur in the home by parents and educators to effectively help reduce school and youth violence. This strategy stands in contrast to use prevention strategies, such as metal detectors and other security measures to help determine benefits and evidence that may offer knowledge and experience in preventing school violence that can enhance approaches to end school
As violence in the community makes its way into the schools, it is pertinent that school administrators have a plan in place to help reduce and eliminate acts of violence within their classrooms (Lunenburg, 2011). Becoming proactive, rather than reactive, is crucial because according the to the National Crime Survey conducted in 2004, “the number of crimes committed at or near the 85,000 U. S. public schools was estimated at more than 3 million annually, with 185,580 people injured…on any given day, it was not uncommon for students to carry guns to school” (Lunenburg, 2011, p.
¨School violence refers to criminal acts committed at educational institutions such as elementary, middle, and high schools as well as colleges and universities” (¨School¨ 1). A recent school violence happened on December 14, 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut, at Sandy Hook Elementary School. On that day, “twenty-year-old Adam Lanza Adam was armed with a variety of weapons, including two handguns and an assault rifle (“Guns” 17). With those firearms, he killed his mother, six adult staff members, and twenty first-graders (17). When school violences such as Sandy
This essay will evaluate the article titled “What Can Be Done About School Shootings?: A Review of the Evidence” by looking at its arguments and points in conjunctions with other theories and researches about school shootings. With the question being poised, why has school shootings generated such debates around school safety. As noted in the article and other theories and research the fear generated by school shootings often implies that schools are considerable unsafe but when looking at the occurrence of violence in schools in comparison with other risks it is minimal. Nevertheless, what essentially can be drawn from such debates is the increasingly interest in school safety has in a sense pointed at a greater need to do something about
Youth violence has become a growing issue in the United States. According to the U.S. Secret Service, “in the previous decade, the odds of a high school student being injured or threatened with a weapon were about 1 in 14, and the odds of a teen being in a physical fight were 1 in 7” (Youth Violence Statistics 18). Statistics has also proven that youth violence and bullying within school environment intensified in recent years and has remained high. Indeed, youth themselves are the group allegedly affected by youth violence; however, they are not the only one. For instance, youth violence influences communities and the country as a whole by increasing the cost of health care, interfering social services, and curtailing
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
Conflict and differences of opinion exist in every healthy organization. Americans need to try to take control of today's youth and the violence that is and has been developing in this country for many years. Although violence will never be extinct, there are many different ways to reduce violence. Each school and student population has different ways of dealing with and helping to curb the need for violence in schools.