School violence can include bullying, theft, assault, gang violence, and even gun use. Because of the threat to student and faculty safety, it's important to do everything possible to prevent violence in school. The best strategy includes action on the part of the school and the surrounding community.
School Strategies
The solution to school violence varies from school to school. The level of violence and the means of controlling it depend on demographics, the quality of the teachers, the school's budget, the school's discipline policy and how well it is enforced, and many more factors. Schools can help prevent violence by maximizing student attendance, engagement and performance. Extracurricular programs like athletics, art, music, and other programs all help students engage in their school and the community.
Most people think that schools should simply discipline and punish students more strictly, but federal law limits such actions in public schools, where much of the country's school violence occurs, in order to prevent the school administrators from abusing their power. Schools must have a clear and concise code of conduct that states specific punishments for violations and must enforce those punishments for every violation. The federal government mandates that school codes of conduct include a zero-tolerance policy for bringing guns to school.
Schools can also change their environment to help prevent violence. Some schools are downsizing because most school violence occurs in larger schools. Other schools are implementing security cameras, metal detectors at the school's entrance, security guards, and uniforms for the students. These strategies are in place to catch students with weapons and to prevent unauthorized persons from entering the school.
Schools can include violence prevention in the curriculum. Some teachers and counselors hold violence-prevention classes or workshops for students, and some schools provide special programs on preventing violence and gang activity for high-risk students.
Community Strategies
The community around the school can get involved to prevent violence before it has a chance to enter the school. Since a person who is violent in school is probably also violent in the community, it is in the community's best interest to get involved with high-risk children and their families. The community can help to stop the vicious cycle of familial violence through parenting-skills classes, life-skill centers, and shelters for families in crises. If a child has community outlets and support, school violence may be prevented before it starts.
School violence is an issue that charitable organizations within the community should get involved with. Booster clubs can hold fundraisers so that schools that otherwise wouldn't have the funding can support special programs to keep students engaged. They can also help children who are already in need or troubled by making sure they can get appropriate help such as counseling.
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