NCJ Number
149777
Date Published
1989
Length
98 pages
Annotation
After providing information on the nature, forms, and primary causes of violence, this booklet discusses the Quebec schools' responsibilities for countering violence by students and describes intervention strategies for preventing and controlling violence in the schools.
Abstract
Part I discusses the phenomenon of violence in the schools. A chapter on the definition of violence is followed by descriptions of various forms of violence, including violence in society, the family, sports and games, the media, and the schools. Violence in the schools encompasses verbal aggression, discrimination, sexual harassment, physical violence, vandalism, and theft and extortion. A chapter on the primary causes of violence addresses theoretical explanations, student-related causes, family- related causes, and school-related causes. In a discussion of the responsibilities of the school in addressing violence, the book advises that school staff must ensure the safety of all those attending the school and create an environment that is conducive to learning. Although a preventive and educational approach is most suitable for a school-based program, particular situations may require the school to take legal or repressive measures. Part II begins with an examination of the procedure for taking action against violence in schools. The procedure has three steps: Analyzing the situation in the school, selecting and implementing a plan of action, and evaluating results and followup. Descriptions of intervention strategies for preventing and controlling violence in the schools are presented under the following major categories: changing the organization of the school, setting up educational activities, improving the quality of life in the schools, and making physical modifications to a school. An appended list of resources includes an evaluation questionnaire and an 87-item bibliography.