School Violence
Violence among young people in society is increasing dramatically. Perhaps what is most alarming is that these violent acts are not only occurring on the streets, but in the school systems as well. School violence is defined as any physical or verbal attack on a person while on school grounds or on school property. In earlier decades, school violence merely involved delinquency and the occasional fight. However, school violence has become a problem which has plagued the nation for the past several years. There has been an increase in the amount and the degree of violence. Students are now bringing guns, knives, and other weapons to school, and many are using them to hurt and kill. With incidents such as the shooting rampage in Littleton, Colorado, the public has become increasingly concerned with ways of predicting and reducing violence in the schools. The problem is how to reduce the amount of violence in America's schools. The purpose of this study is to investigate the major factors of school violence, the effects of school violence, and the methods of prevention. The questions that this study attempts to answer are the causes and signs of school violence, the effects on the academic community, and met
Youth gangs have been a part of the urban landscape since the 1800's. However, in the late twentieth century, gangs in the United States have developed a different character and have spread to rural areas (Burnett & Walz, 1994). Gang activity has also spread into schools, which have historically been viewed as neutral turf. Gangs have played a significant rol in the widespread increase of violence ins cholls. They are responsible for supporting anti-social behaviors, including intimidation and violence towards other students. The mere presence of gangs in school can increase tensions, since many are actively involved with drugs and guns. Youths who are members of these groups are likely to imitate their behavior and act in violent or aggressive ways (Riley & Reno, 1998). Parental involvement is an important factor in determining potentially violent behavior. A child often looks to their parents as role models, as well as for moral guidance. (Portman, 1999). Therefore, if the parent tends to behave in an aggressive manner, the child will tend to mimic this behavior. Parents are also responsible for appropriately disciplining their child. If a parent refuses to address their child's aggressive behavior, the child may become violent in nature. Similarly, a parent who abuses and/or neglects their child is possibly contributing to the spread of violence in schools (Futrell & Powell, 1996). Joseph Guiliano states that youths who live in families where violence is common are at the greatest risk for comingging violence (Guiliano, 1994). The American Psychological Association (APA), claims that family characteristics such as criminal history of the parent, rejection of the child, physical or emotional abuse, or lack of parental supervision are the "strongest predictors" in the potential for violent behavior (Blankenstein, et al., 1995). Therefore, parents need to be aware of the behavior they display in front of their children. Displays Violence in Artwork and Writings Some school districts including Chicago, Detroit, and Miami rely on the use of metal detectors to screen for weapons (Rotundo, 1993). However, officers caution that metal detectors provide somewhat of a false sense of security. Some students may use alternative means such as stashing weapons on a window ledge, in order to avoid the detectors (Nemecek, 1998). Many schools also use security cameras to monitor the activities of students. However, if students can study the locations of the cameras and avoid them when doing something illegal. If mechanical devises are to be used in any school, it should be used in conjunction with other preventative measures.
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Approximate Word count = 3510
Approximate Pages = 14 (250 words per page double spaced)
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