NCJ Number
104686
Date Published
1983
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This overview of prevention and control strategies for school violence argues that such violence can be reduced most effectively when several interventions are implemented simultaneously and involve the students, their teachers, the school's administration, and out-of-school influences such as parents and the local community.
Abstract
Statistics on school violence are presented to emphasize that a real, ongoing problem confronts U.S. schools. Theoretical explanations for school crime are surveyed, including restricted opportunities for many young people, subcultural differences in values and attitudes, prolonged adolescent dependence, and labeling theories. The role of the school in provoking or ameliorating aggressive behavior is discussed. The paper outlines specific strategies which schools might use to reduce crime, ranging from student-oriented programs such as student patrols to special curricula, increased physical security measures, and aggression management training for administrators. Based on an ecological perspective, the author examines the content of violence beyond the school and proposes a community education program aimed at reducing student alienation and isolation. Over 50 references.