I have done a lot of research on the internet revolving around school violence. The following are all preventative measures I've come across: safety plans sold by security companies, risk-reduction training of staff members, parent patrols, cameras and metal detectors, on campus police officers, pledges against gun violence, peer mediation, annonymous school violence tip hotlines, and perhaps the most controversial of all- arming teachers. Some of these I will look at in more detail in my future postings.
I happened to find a publication by the National Crime Prevention Council. You know, McGruff's Take a Bite out of Crime campaign. It was titled "A Dozen Things Teachers Can Do to Stop School Violence." Some suggestions were obvious, others were helpful. My overall impression was that much of it was very ideallic. There were some great suggestions made, but I'm sure how a teacher would be able implement them. I'd like to share an abbreviated version of the twleve suggestions with you. First, inform administration about any threats or gang activity. Second, do not tolerate violence in your classroom, and enlist students to create approapriate consequences for violent behavior. Third, openly communicate positive accomplishments as well any concerns you have with students' parents. Fourth, identify warning signs of imending violence and offer the child school approved avenues for getting help. Fifth, get students involved in preventing school violence. Sixth, volunteer to be on the committee that sets the schools safety plan. Seventh, carry out all school policies designed to keep students safe. Eighth, ensure students treat each other with respect. Ninth, teach with passion. Tenth, constantly teach and talk about conflict resolution. Eleventh, find ways to dialogue about violence by linking it to your subject matter. Lastly, convince students how important it is to speak up if they know about a threat. What are your thoughts about these tips?
These are some pretty concrete suggestions for preventing school violence. I was annoyed at how obvious some of them were: report threats to administration, don't allow violene in class, communicate with parents, carry out school rules, demand respect towards classmates, and encourage kids to report threats. Others, I though were too ideal. Convincing students to create student organizations and being the advisor takes time. Time that many of us simply do not have. It takes a lot of organization and man hours to pull off organization activities. Again, serving of the committee that creates the school safety plan is time consuming, especially if you are required to be at school board meetings. Teaching conflict resolution takes time away from the curriculum the state wants you to teach. I'm not saying this wouldn't be beneficial, but how do you cover state sponsored curriculum in addition to conflict resolution in a timely manner?
The suggestion to recognize warning signs of violence and offer the appropraite help was good. My thought was that it would require teacher training, which could easily be done at a professional development meeting or even at the start of school welcome back meeting. Every year my district goes over bloodborne pathogens. Why not review the warning signs of violent behavior as well as run down the services available to students. This would be a viable suggestion to implement.
There were two suggestions that I was not convinced would have impact on reducing school violence. How does teaching with passion reduce the threat of violence? I might think something is very interesting and teach in an intense, excited way; but the students still think it is the most boring concept in the world. I just experienced this talking about how the automobile revolutionized American society. I was all excited talking about it, and the kids looked at me like I had lost my mind. They lacked passion when they discussed the automobile despite my enthusiasm. I do not see a connection between passionate teaching and preventing school violence. Students finding something they are passionate about would make more sense to me. I also questioned how impactful discussing violence and violence prevention would be. I'm not convinced it would have the desired effect of reducing school violence. I subbed last year when the class was discussing school shootings for a book they were reading called Shooter. From what I remember, the students were not interested at all about the topic, which shocked me. Most of the classes agreed that nothing could be done to stop a school shooting once the perpetrator put his/her mind to it. They seem to think that nothing would stop a person determined to carry out such a violent act, not metal detectors, not trying to talk the person out of it, not police officers on campus. It was amazing and scary how close minded the kids were about discussing school violence. It was equally as scary hearing that they thought there was no way of preventing it. Again, I'm not diminishing the importance of talking to kids about violence and ways to prevent it. I'm just not sure how open students would be to discussing it. Therefore, I'm not sure the discussion would have the desired effect.
What do you think? Can a teacher prevent school violence? Can students prevent it?
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2 comments:
I agree with the intentions of the following programs: safety plans sold by security companies, risk-reduction training of staff members, parent patrols, cameras and metal detectors, on campus police officers, pledges against gun violence, peer mediation, and anonymous school violence tip hotlines.
I totally disagree with arming teachers. I'm not saying that I'm the most "normal" teacher around, but I know that I'm not crazy. I would not want to be around a teacher that has a gun, for the simple fact that they may not know how to operate it. If the gun is pulled, the intention is to use it. If teachers are armed, how long will it take for them to wave it around as a means of trying to control a situation.
"A Dozen Things Teachers Can Do to Stop School Violence" must be implemented with teachers in the early-elementary level classes. Now here's the catch....what if I (a parent) don't agree with the beliefs that are being taught to my son's" teacher? Should the program be banned from the school? It's tough to make everyone happy.
Here's my current situation at work, in accordance with the preventative steps:
First, inform administration about any threats or gang activity. (We keep a very close eye on this.)
Second, do not tolerate violence in your classroom, and enlist students to create appropriate consequences for violent behavior. (We do not tolerate inappropriate behavior. There are guidelines that are followed and enforced. The students did not have a whole lot to do with selecting the consequences. However, I do have them construct our classroom rules.)
Third, openly communicate positive accomplishments as well any concerns you have with students' parents. (We communicate positive accomplishments with the students. We do not have any contact with their parents. Most of the kids don't have contact with their parents, either.)
Fourth, identify warning signs of impending violence and offer the child school approved avenues for getting help. (We do this.)
Fifth, get students involved in preventing school violence. (We do this.)
Sixth, volunteer to be on the committee that sets the schools safety plan. (I'm not on a committee. There is a committee that respectfully values any, and all, suggestions.)
Seventh, carry out all school policies designed to keep students safe. (We do this.)
Eighth, ensure students treat each other with respect. (Encouraged by adults, but not always followed by kids.)
Ninth, teach with passion. (I try to be as passionate as possible.)
Tenth, constantly teach and talk about conflict resolution. (Every chance I get.)
Eleventh, find ways to dialogue about violence by linking it to your subject matter. (Happens often....today in Social Studies.)
Lastly, convince students how important it is to speak up if they know about a threat. (They are encouraged. Nobody likes a snitch. Unfortunately, the "snitches" are few and far between." There are a couple that I do to when I suspect something. They are a great resource when I need them.)
If bloodborne pathogen training is required, shouldn't violence prevention/education be, too? You bring up a good point: "Why not review the warning signs of violent behavior as well as run down the services available to students. This would be a viable suggestion to implement."
I think that kids know exactly how to prevent it. Like you say, I'm not sure how open students would be to discussing it, either. What would be the desired outcome? What would happen next if the outcome was different, or not acceptable. This is something that will never be perfected. All we can do is try our best.
What do you think? Can a teacher prevent school violence? Can students prevent it?
To be honest with you, I'm not sure that teachers or students can prevent violence. I not sure that all of the prevative measures I've reaserched can prevent school violence. If someone is determined to carry out a violent act at school, then (s)he will find a way around security measures. Anything short of turning our schools into prisons with checkpoints,pat downs, and armed guards could violence be completely thwarted. I think we can strive to bring awareness to students and staff. We can continue to encourage respect, model exemplary behavior, and educate ourselves about the warning signs and risk-reduction. Above all else, we need an open line of communication between parents, staff, and students. Without communication we have nothing.
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