Gunfights replace fistfights.
Many students must travel through drug-dealer or gang turf. Violence becomes an acceptable way to settle conflicts. When this happens, children cannot learn and teachers cannot teach. Creating a safe place where children can learn and grow depends on a partnership among students, parents and teachers, as well as other community institutions.
To Help Prevent School Violence:
- Find out how crime threatens schools in your community.
- Take action to protect children.
- Promote nonviolent ways to manage conflict.
How Do These Ideas Translate Into Action?
Here are some practical suggestions for young people and parents.
Students:
- Settle arguments with words, not fists or weapons.
- Report crimes or suspicious activities to the police, school authorities or parents.
- Take safe routes to and from school and know places to seek help.
- Don't use alcohol or other drugs and stay away from places and people associated with them.
- Get involved in your school's anti-violence activities, have poster contests against violence, hold anti-drug rallies and volunteer to counsel peers. If there are no programs, help start one.
Parents:
- Sharpen your parenting skills.
- Work with your child to emphasize and build their positive strengths.
- Teach your children how to reduce their risk of being victims of crime.
- Know where your kids are, what they are doing and with whom they are doing it with - at all times!
- Help your children learn nonviolent ways to handle frustration, anger, and conflict.
- Become involved in your child's school activities - PTA, field trips, and helping out in class or lunchroom.
- Work with other parents in your neighborhood to start a McGruff House or other block program.
(A McGruff House is a reliable source of help for children in emergency or frightening situations. Volunteers must meet specific standards, including a law-enforcement record check. Programs are established locally as a partnership among law enforcement, schools, and community organizations. For information, call 801-486-8768.)
For more information on School Safety contact:
National School Safety Center
4165 Thousand Oaks Blvd.,
Suite 290
Westlake Village, CA 91362
(805) 373-9977 or National Association of Elementary School Principals 1615 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314-3438 (703) 684-3345
Rodney says, “Report crimes or suspicious activities to the police, school authorities or parents."
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