The first chapter reviews primary sources of violence that increasingly challenge our culture and social order, followed by a chapter that shows violence is not just an urban issue in poor neighborhoods. Suggestions in the third chapter identify nine approaches to creating a safer school setting for the school principal to consider. Leadership expectations and behaviors are powerful factors in creating a climate that rejects violence. Chapter 4 explores eight alternatives that can involve students in creating safer schools. This is followed by a chapter that focuses on coalitions in the community. It notes that when the principal finds ways to facilitate the integration of community services, concomitant benefits are generated for students, families, and the school. Suggestions for and examples of effective parent-involvement programs are included. Chapter 6 explores the assistance that should be expected from the central office. Policy implementation, collaborative planning, and proactive approaches must be initiated by the central office to support administrative efforts at each school. Chapter 7 outlines a building and campus approach to stemming crime, and the concluding chapter presents ideas for proactively planning reactions to crisis situations. 77 references and a subject index