VANDALISM IS NOTHING NEW. THE WORD ITSELF COMES FROM ROMAN TIMES. HOWEVER, IT HAS BECOME AN INCREASING PROBLEM IN RECENT YEARS, ESPECIALLY IN SCHOOLS, AS STUDENTS TRY TO ASSERT MASTERY BY INFLICTING DESTRUCTION ON THEIR SURROUNDINGS OR ON THE OTHER STUDENTS. HISTORICALLY PUBLIC EDUCATION HAS BEEN SEEN AS A GIFT OF A SOCIETY TO YOUTH. VANDALISM IMPLIES A LACK OF PURPOSE AND AN UNWILLINGNESS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN SOCIETY'S EFFORT TO CREATE AN ENLIGHTENED CITIZENRY. IN FACT, MOST VANDALS SEEM IMMATURE AND UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY OF THEIR MALICIOUS ACTS. THIS LACK OF MATURITY IS COMPOUNDED BY SOCIETY'S CURRENT PREOCCUPATION WITH 'SOLIPSISM,' THE BELIEF THAT ONES OWN FEELINGS AND PERCEPTIONS ARE UPPERMOST. 'SELF-KNOWLEDGE' AND 'SELF-AWARENESS' HAVE BEEN THE FOCUS OF MUCH OF THE EDUCATION OF THE PAST DECADE. TOO OFTEN THIS HAS LED TO A LACK OF APPRECIATION OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF ONE'S ACTIONS. CONCRETE STEPS WHICH SCHOOLS SHOULD TAKE TO DECREASE VANDALISM ARE: (1) TO ATTEMPT TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION BY THE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL AFFAIRS TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF BELONGING AND PURPOSE; (2) TO DEVELOP PROCEDURES FOR POSITIVE DISCIPLINE INQUIRY AND TO FOSTER RESPECT FOR SCHOOL FACILITIES; (3) TO HOLD INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DO. THE SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS INITIATED A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND PRIDE IN THE SCHOOL -- GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING, CLEAN-UP PROJECTS, FIELD TRIPS, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. EFFORTS ARE MADE TO GET EVERY STUDENT TO PARTICIPATE SO THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ANY GROUP WHICH FEELS LEFT OUT AND ALIENATED. SUCH ACTIVITIES ALSO HELP FOSTER DISCIPLINE AND A FEELING OF PRIDE. THE BEST WAY TO REDUCE VANDALISM IS TO ATTACK ITS UNDERLYING CAUSE. (GLR)