THESE LARGER SOCIAL ISSUES ARE SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS, THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN YOUTH AND ADULT CRIME, THE QUESTION OF WHO IS TO BLAME FOR STUDENT ACTIONS, AND WHICH INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT TAKES PLACE IN SCHOOLS. YOUTH CRIME IN THE SCHOOLS IS HIGH AND ON THE RISE; ITS COST TO THE SCHOOLS IS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT $600 MILLION PER YEAR. A SERIES OF COURT DECISIONS WHICH DEFINE STUDENTS' RIGHTS AND A NUMBER OF REPORTS WHICH CRITICIZE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE WAY THEY HANDLE DISRUPTIVE STUDENTS ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. THESE PLACE ADDED BURDENS ON PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFICIALS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FAILING TO DEAL WITH THE INADEQUATE RESOURCES AND FACILITIES OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY IN A PERIOD OF ECONOMIC CRUNCH. ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE RELATES TO A REANALYSIS OF HOW THE COURTS SHOULD DEAL WITH YOUTH CRIME. WHILE NOT PRIMARILY A SCHOOL QUESTION, THE TWO ARE CLOSELY RELATED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT SCHOOL VIOLENCE IS NOT SIMPLY A SCHOOL PROBLEM, BUT REFLECTS AND IS LINKED TO LARGER SOCIAL PROBLEMS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DJM)