NCJ Number
31919
Editor(s)
J W JONES
Date Published
1975
Length
80 pages
Annotation
A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF THE NATURE, EXTENT, AND POSSIBLE CAUSES OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM, WITH A DISCUSSION OF METHODS OF COPING WITH AND PREVENTING THESE FORMS OF BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM RATES AND COSTS IS FIRST PROVIDED. SUCH POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THESE BEHAVIORS AS DRUGS, POOR SOCIAL CONDITIONS, AVAILABILITY OF DANGEROUS WEAPONS, THE DECLINE OF DISCIPLINE, DISINTEREST OF TEACHERS AND PARENTS, AND EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA ARE REVIEWED. A SPECIAL CHAPTER DETAILING THE UNIQUE PROBLEMS OF THE BIG-CITY SCHOOLS IN THIS AREA IS PROVIDED. SUGGESTIONS ARE THEY OFFERED FOR VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM CONTROL USING SUCH METHODS AS IMPROVED SECURITY MEASURES, PUBLIC RELATIONS, STRONGER AND MORE DURABLE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, AND IMPROVED SCHOOL ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS. METHODS OF COPING WITH SUCH PROBLEMS AS ASSAULTS ON TEACHERS, INTRUDERS, RACIAL CONFRONTATIONS, STUDENT ASSAULTS, BOMB THREATS, AND ARSON ARE OUTLINED AS WELL. SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM CONTROL PROJECTS ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE METHODS OF INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY IN THE SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOL SECURITY FORCE, AND THE ROLE OF POLICE IN THE SCHOOLS.