| The recent rash of college campus shootings has | | | | instance, in a two-year period, Minnesota suspended |
| overshadowed the ongoing violence that has become | | | | more than 4,000 kindergarteners, first graders, and |
| an unwelcome addition to the nation's primary, | | | | second graders statewide. News reports of |
| intermediate, and secondary classrooms. In some | | | | suspensions for minor infractions of zero-tolerance |
| urban areas, violence in schools is so common that | | | | policies abound, but we must remain aware that these |
| children have become somewhat desensitized to its | | | | suspensions and disciplinary actions are understandably |
| presence and may no longer view violence as | | | | skewing the statistics a bit higher than they should be. |
| something that should actually be rare within the | | | | This, in no way however, should minimize the fact that |
| educational environment. This speaks volumes about | | | | in-school violence is a very real and growing problem |
| our public school system, but the problem may be | | | | within the nation's academic environments. |
| even worse than imagined. | | | | Obviously, parents cannot keep their children out of |
| - One Cleveland, Ohio elementary school classroom | | | | school. Many schools have implemented programs that |
| erupted in violence when students, unhappy with a | | | | teach children about bullying and about what is |
| substitute teacher's disciplinary practices, bombarded | | | | considered appropriate behavior. Still other programs |
| that teacher with books and other objects, sending the | | | | concentrate on emphasizing the rights of others and |
| teacher to the hospital with minor injuries. | | | | encouraging a school-wide atmosphere of respect. |
| - One six-year-old boy in Flint, Michigan shot and killed a | | | | Yet, most experts agree that, without the help of |
| female classmate. | | | | parents, schools, the children who attend them, and the |
| - One Indiana second grader used his shoe to pummel | | | | adults who work within them, will be forced to deal |
| a teacher. | | | | with violence as a daily standard. |
| - One kindergartener in Philadelphia attacked a | | | | As helpful as many anti-violence programs are for |
| pregnant teacher, punching her in the stomach. | | | | students and faculty, children need to also be taught |
| Although the chances that any one child will be the | | | | how to avoid situations that may become violent and |
| direct victim of in-school violence is still relatively small, | | | | how to protect themselves from becoming victims of |
| the chances that he or she will witness such violence | | | | school violence. First and foremost, the zero tolerance |
| is nearly 100%. And the reality is that such violence has | | | | policy of non-violence that exists within schools must |
| progressed from what was once the common | | | | also extend to the home. Children who are permitted |
| schoolyard scuffle to altercations between students, | | | | violent outbursts at home, are likely to continue such |
| students and teachers, and students and security that | | | | behavior in other settings as well. |
| may send one or more of the participants to the | | | | Apparently, school suspensions, expulsions, and other |
| hospital for treatment - or worse. | | | | current disciplinary practices are not working. |
| While some experts argue that school violence has | | | | Therefore, while school administrations consider how |
| always been a problem, especially in urban school | | | | to deal with school violence, children must be taught |
| districts, others insist that the problem is becoming | | | | how to recognize a potentially explosive situation in |
| more pronounced, particularly in the lower grades. | | | | order to avoid the fallout. |
| Regardless, the number of assaults on children and | | | | School violence is not cool, funny, or acceptable. |
| adults in the nation's schools has reached what can | | | | Children who believe this and speak out against |
| only be called epidemic proportions. When our children | | | | violence are more likely to avoid violent situations. |
| cannot attend school in a reasonably safe | | | | Children who fail to remain firm in this belief and who |
| environment, education suffers and childhood is | | | | participate in violence because of peer pressure are |
| sacrificed. | | | | more likely to be caught up in violent situations. Peer |
| Competition and conflict between peers has led to | | | | pressure is a mighty sword for adults and children. |
| some minor physical altercations throughout the ages. | | | | Therefore, children who exert positive peer behavior |
| Perhaps what is most alarming is that not only are | | | | can have a significant effect on their schoolmates. |
| children attacking each other with increasing ferocity, | | | | Be a tattle tale. Children are often faced with the |
| but they are attacking the adults who are there to | | | | difficult decision of telling on another student who may |
| teach them as well. To many, this complete lack of | | | | be considering violence, who may have brought a |
| regard for authority signifies a much larger underlying | | | | weapon to school, or who may be behaving in an |
| problem. | | | | unacceptable or threatening manner. Early on, we |
| Undoubtedly, children are bringing significant stressors | | | | teach children that being a tattle tale is annoying and |
| into the classroom. Single-parent households, abusive | | | | undesirable. Additionally, peer pressure teaches children |
| home environments, economic hardships, and mild | | | | that it's not cool to inform adults of another child's |
| disabilities are only a few of the factors that haunt our | | | | activities. However, all bets are off when it comes to |
| children even during the hours when they should be | | | | school violence. Children need to be taught that the |
| concentrating on education. Yet, it can be argued that | | | | repercussions of withholding information from teachers |
| these factors have always been present and children | | | | and other adults of another child's unsafe activities can |
| were not shooting their classmates or stabbing their | | | | lead to irreversible consequences for that child and |
| teachers. | | | | those around him. Adults are often kept in the dark |
| It makes sense to adjust some of the present school | | | | about situations that are preventable. Communication |
| violence statistics for the "overkill" factor. Suspensions | | | | between school students, parents, and school officials |
| for assault have skyrocketed within almost all of the | | | | is crucial for keeping schools as safe as possible for |
| nation's school systems, even at the lower grades. For | | | | everyone. |