Four essays on the problem of school violence include a teacher's perspective on violence in the classroom, weapon-carrying in schools, the nature and dynamics of juvenile gangs, and the impact of gangs on school safety. Two essays focus on the causes of school violence, as they consider the influence of media and television violence on the antisocial, aggressive, and violent behavior of children, as well as the influence of child abuse and family violence on violence in the schools. Two essays on school security and related legal issues discuss critical decisions and critical elements in an effective school security program, followed by a review of legal and policy issues related to school violence. Five essays provide guidelines for reducing violence in the school environment. They emphasize a comprehensive approach that includes teachers, school administrators, the government, professional and community associations, religious organizations, and private citizens. Six essays describe specific programs and strategies being used in various U.S. jurisdictions. They include the National Education Association's perspective and policies on school violence, a program for resolving conflicts creatively, the New Mexico Center for Dispute Resolution, the New York City Board of Education's violence prevention strategy, the Virginia model for school to community intervention techniques to prevent violence, and the Texas initiative for preventing violence in schools. The concluding essay describes the use of community safety zones to curb urban violence. A 93-item selected bibliography and name and subject indexes