SERIOUS VIOLENCE IN THE SCHOOLS FIRST BEGAN IN THE 1950'S. THIS TREND DROPPED IN THE 1960'S, ONLY TO CLIMB DRASTICALLY AGAIN IN THE 1970'S. THIS VIOLENCE INCLUDES GANG FIGHTS, BREAKING WINDOWS AND OTHER PROPERTY VANDALISM, AND ASSAULTS ON STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 100 MURDERS COMMITTED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS EACH YEAR, MORE THAN 200,000 ASSAULTS ON STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, AND AN ESTIMATED 12,000 ARMED ROBBERIES ANNUALLY. IN MANY SCHOOLS, WEAPONS HAVE BEEN CONFISCATED, THERE ARE ILLEGAL SALES OF DRUGS AND WEAPONS, AND THERE ARE STUDENT TERRORISTS WHO INTIMIDATE TEACHERS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. SCHOOLS SYSTEMS HAVE FOUND IT NECESSARY TO HIRE SECURITY GUARDS, INSTALL ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE DEVICES, AND USE OTHER TYPES OF SECURITY. MANY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ARE AFRAID OF THE VIOLENCE; THEY ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT IT THAT THE ACADEMIC STANDINGS HAVE DROPPED. ADMINISTRATORS SAY THAT THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS NOT RESPONSIVE TO THE PROBLEMS OF TODAY'S YOUTH; AND THAT MANY OF THEM ARE CAUGHT UP IN THE PROBLEMS OF POVERTY, CRIME, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND DIVORCE. OTHER ADMINISTRATORS ARE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM IN THE FUTURE. SOME SAY THAT VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA HAS INCREASED THE VIOLENT ACTIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE. THESE PROBLEMS ARE ALL PROBLEMS OF A LARGE SOCIETY WHICH BECOME REFLECTED IN THE SCHOOLS. ADMINISTRATIONS SHOULD SET UP RULES FOR CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE AND THEY SHOULD BE STRICTLY ENFORCED. SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM INCLUDE MAKING THE SCHOOLS SMALLER SO THERE IS LESS OVERCROWDING AND TENSION, CREATING ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS SO STUDENTS CAN GO INTO COMMUNITY SERVICE OR VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INSTITUTING DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE PROGRAMS, AND GIVING STUDENTS MORE OF A ROLE IN THEIR SCHOOLS. THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS MUST GET INVOLVED AND WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM IN THE SCHOOLS. (BAC)