IT IS NOTED THAT THE NATIONAL PTA HAD ADOPTED VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM AS ONE OF THEIR PRIORITY CONCERNS. THE MAJOR POINTS AND ISSUES OF AN EDITORIAL PUBLISHED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL PTA ARE THEN PRESENTED IN AN EFFORT TO INDICATE SPECIFIC AREAS OF CONCERN FOR THE PTA. THESE AREAS INCLUDE THE PROBLEM OF SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS, ABSENTEEISM, DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE IN RELATION TO VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM, THE EFFECT OF THE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT ON VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM, THE EFFECT OF TELEVISION VIOLENCE, AND THE PROBLEM OF PARENT APATHY AND NONINVOLVEMENT. THE SPEAKER DESCRIBES THE EFFORTS OF THE NATIONAL PTA IN THESE AREAS OF CONCERN. IT IS NOTED THAT THE NATIONAL PTA IS FUNDING A PILOT PROJECT ON THE PROBLEM OF ABSENTEEISM, HAS PROMOTED AN ALCOHOLISM EDUCATION PROGRAM, HAS ISSUED A RESOLUTION DEMANDING THAT NETWORKS REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF VIOLENCE SHOWN ON TELEVISION, AND HAS SUPPORTED HANDGUN CONTROL. SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY LOCAL PTA'S ARE THEN PROVIDED. AMONG THE TYPES OF PROJECTS DISCUSSED ARE PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE STUDENT PRIDE IN THEIR SCHOOL (OPERATION PRIDE), PARENT PATROLS OF SCHOOL GROUNDS, PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY REPORTING OF ACTS OF VANDALISM, COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON VANDALISM, AND PROVIDING COURSES TO STUDENTS ON THE COSTS AND EFFECTS OF VANDALISM. PROJECTS WHICH INVOLVED THE OPENING OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS AT NIGHT FOR STUDENT ACTIVITIES, THE USE OF STUDENT SECURITY PATROLS, OR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RESIDENCES FOR CUSTODIAL STAFF ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS ITSELF ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES OF TAPES FROM THE VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM CONFERENCE, SEE NCJ-35621, 3562335627, 35629-35635, 35637, 35638, AND 35640-35645.