Because schools represent a microcosm of society, the root causes of violence among American youth can be traced to the easy availability of guns, the rise of drug-related crime, parental irresponsibility, and juvenile involvement in gangs. The article discusses initiatives that parents, teachers, and school administrators can take to keep schools safe for children, including teacher training, violence prevention programs for students, parental involvement in school security efforts, and community awareness campaigns to help parents keep guns out of the hands of their children.