THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY INCLUDED A NATIONWIDE SURVEY OF 757 SCHOOL SYSTEMS, ENROLLING APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF OF THE PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS IN THE COUNTRY. THE SUBCOMMITTEE ALSO CORRESPONDED WITH NUMEROUS SCHOOL SECURITY DIRECTORS, CONTACTED ORGANIZATIONS WITH AN INTEREST IN SCHOOL VIOLENCE, AND HEARD TESTIMONY FROM MORE THAN 30 WITNESSES IN PUBLIC HEARINGS. IN JULY 1976, A TWO-VOLUME REPORT ON THE NATURE OF VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM IN THE SCHOOLS AND ON PROGRAMS THAT CAN REDUCE THESE PROBLEMS WAS ISSUED. THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S EFFORTS REVEALED THE GROWING INCIDENCE OF VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ALONG WITH ATTENDANT PROBLEMS OF WEAPONS, DRUGS, AND ABSENTEEISM. THESE PROBLEMS WERE NOT FOUND EXCLUSIVELY IN LARGE CITIES OR IN LESS AFFLUENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT PERVADED SCHOOLS IN ALL TYPES OF COMMUNITIES. IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT THE COSTS OF VANDALISM PREVENTION AND REPAIR DIVERTS MORE THAN $590 MILLION FROM EDUCATION BUDGETS EACH YEAR--MORE THAN THE TOTAL AMOUNT SPENT ON TEXTBOOKS IN 1972. IT IS NECESSARY TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM DOES NOT LIE SOLELY WITHIN THE SCHOOLS OR IN LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS. THE PRINCIPAL INGREDIENT IN SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM IS NOT MORE MONEY OR MORE LAWS BUT THE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY IN A RANGE OF THOUGHTFUL, BALANCED PROGRAMS. A POSITIVE APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM IN THE SCHOOLS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS: COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS; CODES OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES; CURRICULUM REFORM; ARRANGEMENTS FOR LIAISON AMONG POLICE, SCHOOL, AND COMMUNITY; INSERVICE AND PRESERVICE TEACHER PREPARATION; SCHOOL SECURITY PROGRAMS; COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE STRATEGIES; ARCHITECTURAL AND DESIGN TECHNIQUES; STUDENT AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT; AND ALTERNATIVES TO SUSPENSION. IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT MANY INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM CAN BE TRACED TO YOUTHS WHO ARE NOT IN SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY ARE TRUANT, HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED, OR HAVE DROPPED OUT COMPLETELY. A SECOND IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT MUCH DESTRUCTIVE ACTIVITY OCCURS IN THE LATE AFTERNOON, IN THE EVENING, OR ON WEEKENDS-WHEN SCHOOL BUILDINGS ARE EMPTY. SCHOOLS SHOULD REVIEW THEIR DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES TO MAKE CERTAIN THEY ARE NOT NEEDLESSLY CREATING POTENTIAL VANDALS. COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT USE SCHOOL FACILITIES DURING NONSCHOOL HOURS SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED. (LKM)