School Violence

What Teachers Can Do to Prevent School Violence

Educators and administrators often are the first to see the signs of violent tendencies in our children. Because they have the opportunity to observe kids when they are interacting with their peers, they have the best insight into their typical behaviors and traits. For these reasons, there is much that teachers can do to help prevent violence in our schools. The first and most important thing that teachers can do is to watch for the signs. Kids who become violent often begin by showing signs of depression. They may have trouble dealing with frustration or be unable to control their anger. Any work produced by a child with a theme of death, depression, or violence should be taken seriously and immediately discussed with the parents and the school’s counselor.

Teachers can also help to prevent school violence by making it the topic of conversation whenever discussing current events. By introducing the topic, teachers are reassuring children that they are aware bullying happens. They can express their lack of tolerance for violent behavior and let the kids know that they can always speak to a teacher, counselor or administrator about any concerns they may have. If a teacher hears a child make a prejudicial or stereotypical remark, he or she should immediately address the issue and help the students understand why the statement could be hurtful.

Teachers are in a unique position to observe kids when they are unaware, and as such should be on the lookout for speech or behaviors that may indicate violent tendencies or bullying. By addressing these situations as they occur, it is much more likely that children with behavioral problems can begin receiving help early on, as opposed to after the situation has escalated. Training teachers and administrators on recognizing and dealing with the signs can help prevent school violence in many instances.

Filed Under: School Violence

When Your Kid is the Bully

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Finding out that your child is being bullied at school is a nightmare situation for most parents, especially with the rash of recent incidents in the news. However, if your child is a target you can take steps to help them cope with the situation, defuse the danger and bring the school administration’s attention to the problem. When a parent receives a phone call from school with the news that their child is the bully in question, most are unsure where to begin or even whether or not to believe it.

It is of prime importance that parents take bullying in school seriously. Gone are the days when mom and dad were advised to “let the kids work it out on their own,” and when victims were told to “stand up for themselves and fight back.” These types of solutions are anything but, and more likely to result in an exacerbation of the issue. Parents who are notified that their child has been bullying other children should understand that it is extremely unlikely that the teachers are persecuting him for no reason, and should take immediate steps to understand and curtail the behavior.

A tendency to bully can only come from one of two places: internal or external stimulus. The most likely, and easiest to counteract, stimulus is external. Parents should look first to their own methods of disciplining and maintaining order. Do they often use threats or intimidation to encourage good behavior? Do they use physical punishment? If the honest answer to these questions is “no,” the child may have emotional problems that are causing an internal tendency to act out. In this case, family and child counseling is in order. An inability to empathize with others is often the cause behind aggressive children and this must be dealt with in by a professional in child psychology.

Filed Under: School Violence

It Will Take the Efforts of the Entire Village to Gain Control of School Violence

School violence is a growing concern for school administrators, faculty and parents. Violence among youths is increasing exponentially and this violence is spilling into the school system. This continuing problem has inspired the Center of Disease Control to conduct studies on prevention and offer the results of their studies to the public and educators.

School administrators struggle to develop effective methods to reduce school violence. Most of the policies schools have in place are effective. There are many schools that provide a safe environment and have not experienced an increase in violence. Much of the violence will occur at the end of the school day, once the children have left school premises.

For many school administrators providing a safe environment is a top priority. However, with dwindling budgets, growing class size and staff cuts it is difficult to monitor all of the activities that occur throughout the school day. This problem is compounded by the fact most children are afraid to let and adult know he or she is being bullied or threatened in school. While much of the violence is initiated during school hours, the most serious threats are typically carried out after school.

For schools that are experiencing an increase in violence, administrators have responded with a no tolerance policy to weapons and violent behavior. The offenders are suspended or expelled. Many of them end up in juvenile facilities. However, the more subtle violence such as bullying is often over looked and goes unnoticed until tragedy strikes. At this point, the bully is expelled and may not be allowed to return to school.

Preventing school violence is the responsibility of school administrators; however, the problem is rooted within the community and in the homes of children. Parent and community involvement is crucial in gaining control of this growing problem.

Filed Under: School Violence Tagged With: Bullying, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, School violence, Violence

Bullying is Violence

There are usually a few bullies to contend with in most schools. Unfortunately, in many cases bullying is not addressed quickly enough. Many children suffer fear and humiliation each day they attend school. While most bullying involves taunting and picking on another child, it is also accompanied by threats of physical violence. In many cases, children endure physical abuse. Bullying has often been overlooked, and now school administrators are classifying this as violent behavior whether the abuse is mental or physical. Most bullying occurs between classes, on the playground and during lunch. It is the responsibility of the school administrators and teachers to pay attention to such behavior. Many schools have instituted anti-bullying policies with specific protocols to address the situation effectively. In some areas of the United States, many schools are now required to report any activity of violence to the authorities. School administrators have recognized bullying leads to physical violence and have acknowledged the responsibility of the school administration to provide a safe environment. Many schools have instituted policies in which the parents of the victim and offender are immediately notified of the situation. Parental involvement is critical for both the victim and the offending bully. Disciplinary action is immediate and includes suspension and expulsion. In addition, the children and parents may be required to take courses such as anger management. Such policies are effective if the victim comes forward to report the bullying. However, in most cases, the victim is fearful of reporting such an incident. While school administrators are developing policies to address school violence, many children still suffer humiliation and threats. This not only impacts the child’s ability to learn it also diminishes the child’s self-esteem. It is important to let children know that bullying will not be tolerated. It is also important to let victims know when they report bullying, they will not have to fear retaliation.

Filed Under: School Violence Tagged With: Bullying, Child, School violence, United States, Violence

School Violence Requires Action From Schools, Parents and Community

School administrators across the country; have begun to institute no tolerance policies to combat increasing violence within the school system. While the policies vary between states and school districts, it is a concerted effort to provide a safe educational environment for students. However, schools are still struggling with violence. Providing solutions and instituting new policies can be costly. Many school budgets are stretched to the limits. Class sizes continue to grow and teachers find it difficult to manage these burgeoning class sizes. There are numerous published studies on the growing problem of school violence. Ultimately, poor behavior in children begins in the home. Many children live in poverty, abusive homes and witness violence in the home or in their neighborhoods. This behavior will often manifest while the child is at school. School administrators have the difficult task of relating to children that are raised in bleak circumstances. The lack of parental support and involvement is crippling. While some schools experience little school violence, many schools must deal with violence daily. In the most violent schools, there are security guards, metal detectors and locked down lunches. This does not create a pleasant environment for educational purposes. Unfortunately, these measures do nothing to solve the root of the problem. Children are becoming more violent and the school system is unable to solve the problem without the support from parents and the community. To gain control of this growing problem, school administrators, parents and the community must become actively involved. Disciplinary action taken by the school system are ineffective unless the parents support the action and reinforce these actions within the home. Communities must understand that supporting the school system is crucial. School funding continues to suffer budget cuts while class size continues to increase. To establish safer schools, funding issues must be resolved.

Filed Under: School Violence, Students Tagged With: Child, School, School violence, Violence

The Root Cause of School Violence

While school administrators contend with devising new policies and procedures to create a safe learning environment, violence among youths increases. The growing problem is an issue society must address. The violence in schools is a problem that originates in the home and community. Many children live in violent and poor neighborhoods. Many studies conclude children in low-income areas have a propensity toward violent behavior. Sadly, they are learning and adopting this behavior from their surrounding environment. Parents struggle to support their families and are often absent from the home during critical periods.

Until the root cause is addressed and dealt with, school violence will continue to rise. School administrators have the daunting task of balancing a solid education with a safe environment. If a child is violent in the home, this will eventually be expressed in school. Many schools have instituted sensitivity training for school staff. This training includes skills to relate and communicate with children that may come from a hostile environment. In addition, this training includes methods of detecting warning signs and recognizing children that are at high risk.

School violence is an issue that many communities are experiencing. The Center for Disease control has declared this a public health issue. In addition, the CDC has initiated studies and made public the results of these studies. In an effort to provide schools and the communities with effective tools, the CDC has published free information available to the public. These tools include published studies, fact sheets and teaching aides for educators.

School administrators continue their efforts to provide a safe learning experience for all children. However, their resources are dwindling as violence among youths continues to rise. Until the root of the problem is addressed and solutions found, the violence will grow exponentially. This violent trend continues to garner the attention of the CDC and solutions are actively sought.

Filed Under: School Violence Tagged With: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, School violence, Violence

My How Schools Have Changed

School systems have changed dramatically over the passed 15 years. The school landscape in many communities is similar to a detention center instead of a learning institution. School violence is increasing and many school systems struggle with the challenge of providing a safe environment while providing an environment that is conducive to learning. This challenge has significantly changed the landscape of many public schools.

Administrative responsibilities of schools have become complex and costly. School administrators have become burdened with dealing with violent youths that most are ill equipped to handle. Educators are trained to teach and many are finding they lack the knowledge and skill required to address violent behavior. Unfortunately, this has led to significant changes in the school system.

Many schools have instituted security programs that are likened to a detention center. Schools across the country have added metal detectors, locker searches, security guards and some have hired drug-sniffing canines. Many schools lock down the school during lunch periods to circumvent children from leaving the campus. Numerous schools have added closed-circuit televisions and student identification cards. Schools that struggle with a diminishing budget have asked parents to volunteer to monitor school hallways, playgrounds and lunchrooms.

While schools and communities struggle to find viable and effective solutions, many schools look like a place where children are punished and serving time instead of obtaining an education. As the violence increases, additional strict measures will be put in place. Attending school today is vastly different than it was just 15 years ago.

It is difficult to imagine how the school landscape will change in the next 15 years. Many schools have failed to maintain proper education levels and now must contend with providing proper security and safety. Finding the balance of providing safety and a good education is a difficult challenge.

Filed Under: School Violence, Students Tagged With: Education, School district, State school, United States

The Power of School Assemblies Against Bullies

Schools across the country have recognized that bullying is a serious offense. With school violence increasing, many schools and communities are implementing programs to end school bullying. School administrators in many parts of the country are empowering children with tools to protect themselves and others against bullies. In addition, many educators are receiving much needed training in recognizing that teasing and taunting is a painful experience for any child. In the past, bullying has been treated lightly. Today, school administrators have developed policies and procedures to address bullying with immediate action.

Children can report bullying and remain anonymous without fear of retaliation. School administrators have realized they must create trust among their students and provide a safe avenue for children to report offenses. Many schools have developed mandatory education classes to educate children on bullying and why it is wrong. One of the most effective tactics has been school assemblies. Gathering the students in an auditorium to discuss bullying has proven to be quite effective. Most bullies come from home environments where they are being bullied or they bully to gain notoriety and become popular. This public discussion of bullying often embarrasses bullies and empowers other students with the knowledge that a bully is not cool at all, but a sad individual that needs help.

Bullies try to impress their friends by taunting other children. They want to be noticed and recognized. School assemblies that focus on the subject of bullying, have effectively diminished the power of bullies. This creates an environment where bullies are viewed as undesirable individuals instead of popular. These assemblies empower other children with knowledge and tools to prevent bullying. It has also created an environment in which victims have a voice and gain the support of their fellow students. These assemblies have inspired students to develop student groups committed to protecting and helping fellow students that are being bullied.

Filed Under: School Violence, Students Tagged With: Bullying, Child, School bullying, Student

A Child is Bullied Every Seven Minutes

The increase of violence among youths is troubling and disturbing. Unfortunately, this violence is often perpetrated in school. This has caused an environment to develop in which some children fear attending school. Statistically, a child is bullied every seven minutes. Creating a safe environment for children to be educated is a challenge in many schools. The role of school administration has changed from providing a good education to combating school violence. Many schools have recognized the emotional and physical abuse that occurs in schools daily. Thousands of children dread attending school for fear of being bullied.

Many children will miss school because they are so fearful of being bullied. At least eight percent of children miss at least one day per month because they are afraid to attend school. Over 43 percent of children are terrified of using the restrooms at school because they are more likely to be harassed in the school restrooms. Many children are harassed or bullied on school playgrounds. Sadly, over 85 percent of the time, there is no intervention by teachers or peers. The problem is compounded by staggering statistics that indicate an argument with a bully results in physical violence 80 percent of the time.

School administrators find themselves scrambling to provide solutions for this growing problem. Many children suffer silently at the hands of a bully for fear of retaliation if they report the incident. Many schools have instituted confidentiality policies to encourage students to report bullying. Many schools have instituted policies of immediate expulsion and reporting the violent behavior to local authorities.

While many schools struggle to prevent school violence, children continue to be bullied and tormented. This growing problem not only causes harm physically and emotionally, it prevents children from obtaining an education. It makes learning difficult because many children dread and fear attending school.

Filed Under: School Violence, Students Tagged With: Bullying, Child, School, School violence

A Parent’s Guide to Helping a Child Cope With Bullying

While schools struggle to provide a safe educational environment, many children continue to be afraid of going to school. School administrations across the country are beginning to address bullying with stricter disciplinary acts in an effort to make attending school safe and enjoyable for children. However, these efforts are only effective if children come forward to report bullying. Most children are afraid that the bullying will become worse if they report it. Many parents are unaware that their child is being bullied. There are several warning signs and many things a parent can do to help their child.

The fist warning sign that your child may be taunted by a bully is the child’s unwillingness to go to school. The child may attempt to fake an illness so he or she can stay home from school. While this is a warning sign that is often over looked, it is important for a parent to question and investigate why their child does not want to attend school. If your child is adamant about not attending school one day, allow your child to stay home. If you can, spend the day with your child, begin a conversation with your child about why they do not want to go to school. Above all, let your child know that you love him or her. Allow your child to talk and assure your child you are there to help. If you child confides in you that he or she is being bullied, immediately contact school officials to file a complaint. These complaints are handled in a confidential manner. You child’s teachers will be made aware of the situation and will monitor the situation closely. Talk with your child daily and let your child know that he or she is not to blame.

Protecting children from bullying is a challenge that many parents face. Developing open communication with your child will help him or her feel more secure knowing you are there to help.

Filed Under: School Violence, Students Tagged With: Bullying, Child, Parent, Violence and Abuse