NCJ Number
100460
Date Published
1985
Length
255 pages
Annotation
Using data from the 1978 Safe School Study, this study examines the relationship of community and school factors to teacher and student victimization.
Abstract
A review of the extent of teacher and student victimization is based on both data from the Safe School Study and National Crime Surveys (victimization surveys). The research then hypothesizes that several community and school organizational characteristics are related to school victimization rates. The book details the data reduction efforts applied to the Safe School Study (a survey of thousands of students and teachers as well as principals in over 600 U.S. schools) to derive measures of school characteristics related to school disorder. Also documented is the development of community-characteristic measures based on census data for the schools in the Safe School Study. Measures examined include community demographic and social composition; school size, staffing, and resources; school climate and administration; and school security. Alternative models of school disorder, including separate models for teacher and student victimization, are presented. Based on the findings, policymakers are advised on school size and resources, the organization of instruction, school climate, disciplinary practices, and social policies related to community influences on school disorder. Appendixes contain survey questionnaires and the item content of the scales. Approximately 200 references, author and subject indexes.