School violence can be described as any violent act that disrupts learning and has a negative impact on students. School violence can be exhibited in many different forms. Violent behaviors can be fighting, use of weapons, bullying and cyberbullying. School violence doesn’t only occur on school property but can also occur on the way to and from school, and in school sponsored events. According to the CDC, “Nearly 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied on school property in the last year, and about 1 in 7 were electronically bullied (texting, Instagram, Facebook, or other social media)” (CDC.(2019). These alarming statistics call for immediate action. The question is then raised who is responsible for the increase in youth violence and what are solutions that can be taken to prevent violence among our youth and in our schools. The most effective way to prevent violence in schools is a community wide effort because research shows that early intervention at home, community engagement and proper education for school staff to identify and help at risk students can greatly reduce the potential for violence in our schools.
Research has shown that youth violence starts early in childhood and has serious and lasting effects that can lead to violence in the school. Children need to learn how to express their emotions in a nonviolent way before starting school. The home environment can contribute greatly to the increase or decrease in violence among youth. It is necessary for early intervention in the home to prevent violence in the early ages of childhood. Signs of aggression be early as the toddler stage. Family involvement plays a crucial part in preventing school violence. It is essential that parents know the warning signs of abnormal aggressive behavior and get help to promote healthy emotional alternatives to these adverse behaviors. “Knowing what’s normal behavior for your son or daughter can help you recognize even small changes in behavior and give you an early warning that something is troubling your child” (pta.org, n.d.).
Early intervention from parents also includes being proactive about promoting healthy emotional development at home. Open communication is the key to a healthy relationship between a parent and child. “Englander’s research shows that simply asking children about their friends, their technology use and their day is an important way to show you care for them”(Englander n.d.). Children in a loving and stable home environment are less likely to be involved in school violence. Providing opportunities for problem -solving, impulse control, anger management within the family decreases the risk for violent tendencies in youth.
An unstable home presents a higher risk for youth violence. “Family factors include access to weapons, poor parenting skills, teenage childbearing (associated with early childhood aggression), and family discord/violence” (Hitchcock, Ejere, &Myton 2017).
“Childhood and youth violence in schools is a major problem and concern in the United States, and it has become a large social policy issue as well as public health concern” (Boulter, 2004). Community involvement is an important factor in reducing school violence. Social services provide early intervention support programs that help support the family unit. Training in positive parenting skills helps aid healthy child development in at risk families. These training sessions address stressors such as poverty, domestic violence and drug abuse and have shown to have positive impacts. Collaborations between parents and community support is necessary for a successful intervention to reduce violence in schools. Positive relationships with adults in the community can strengthen the prevention of youth violence. “This relationship-focused strategy lowers young people’s risk for violence by promoting their feelings of connectedness to caring adults and their school and community, having adults available to reduce opportunities for violence, and increasing exposure to nonviolent and positive role models who demonstrate a willingness to help and cooperate with others”(CDC 2020). Involving youth in extracurricular activities within the community is another way to curb youth violence These activities can be provided in varied formats and settings such as organizations that include opportunities for youth to lead and serve the community and faith- based organizations that promote unity and servanthood.
The physical characteristics of the community environment can have a positive or negative effect on the residents. Characteristics like lighting, upkeep of the neighborhood and schools, clean parks for children to play create a safe and positive environment for the residents and youth in the community to have social interactions. These interactions can lead to healthy relationships that encourage young people to desire to be productive and less susceptible towards violent behaviors.
While teachers are the most recognized position within the school walls, there are many other members that make up the school staff. The school staff includes the principal, counselor, nurse, secretaries, superintendent, aides and janitors. It is the responsibility of all members of the school staff to identify and help at risk students that may exhibit violent behaviors.
Identifying students who are at risk for committing school violence is the first step in preventing school violence. It is crucial that these students are identified as early as possible. Preschool children have been known to exhibit rage and volatile behavior. Therefore, early detection and prevention is so important. Schools must be equipped with trained professionals on their staff. “A trained counselor, social worker, or psychologist understands children and is skilled in intervening in their problems: (Wallace, N.D.) Trained mental health professionals can educate teachers and other support staff on how to be alert and watch for warning signs. Mental health professionals in the school setting can work with the teachers, administration and other school staff as a team. It is important to share information and work together in order to make the necessary decisions to escalate to authorities if there is an immediate threat to the school. Teachers have a huge responsibility in educating their students and keeping them safe. Education and support for teachers is mandatory for early detection and prevention of school violence. Teachers must know how to recognize aggressive behavior in the classroom and make quick decisions that will impact the safety of all the students. There must be more education and training on how to work with at risk children. The schools must shift the focus from just making sure they are educating students to academic success to ensuring the emotional and social wellbeing of the student as well.
Children who have witnessed or been involved in domestic violence are at a greater risk for violent tendencies. “All children should be screened for domestic violence exposure at regular intervals, and those who are at risk should have a more thorough health assessment” (King,K., 2014). Combined efforts between teachers and mental health support staff can identify the students who are at a greater risk of violent behavior and get them help. This helps create a safe place for students and staff.
The National Threat Assessment Center of the United States Secret Service released an operational guide on preventing targeted school violence. “The threat assessment model can establish a students’ risk for violence because it can provide information about a students’ communications and behavior; stressful events in the students’ life; and, the emotional and mental resources that a student possesses to overcome challenges” (Page,A 2018). Equipping teachers and the entire school staff to recognize at risk students is vital to preventing school violence.
The most effective way to prevent violence in schools is a community wide effort because research shows that early intervention at home, community engagement and proper education for school staff to identify and help at risk students can greatly reduce the potential for violence in our schools.
References
- 10 Things You Can Do to Prevent Violence in Your School Community. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pta.org/home/family-resources/safety/School-Safety/Checklist-to-Help-Prevent-Violence-in-Schools
- Boulter, L. (2004). The Effect of Community Involvement Programs on School … Retrieved from https://www.shsu.edu/academics/education/journal-of-multidisciplinary-graduate-research/documents/2015/Wilson-3.pdf
- Ehiri, J. E., Hitchcock, L. I., Ejere, H. O. D., & Mytton, J. A. (2017, March 7). Primary prevention interventions for reducing school violence. Retrieved from https://arizona.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/primary-prevention-interventions-for-reducing-school-violence-2
- Englander, E. (2019, December 11). 10 ways schools, parents and communities can prevent school shootings now. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/10-ways-schools-parents-and-communities-can-prevent-school-shootings-now-91960
- King, K. (2014, January 31). ‘Violence in the School Setting: A School Nurse Perspective’. Retrieved from http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-19-2014/No1-Jan-2014/Violence-in-School.html
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control – Home Page|Injury Center|CDC. (2020, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/injury/index.html
- Page, A. (2018, July 14). Preventing School Violence in America. Retrieved from https://www.hsdl.org/c/preventing-school-violence-in-america/
- Six Steps For Schools to End School Violence. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-raise-happy-cooperative-child/201808/six-steps-schools-end-school-violence
- Youth Violence Resources |Violence Prevention|Injury Center|CDC. (2019, December 31). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/resources.html
