 |
In the United States, an estimated 55 million
students are enrolled in pre-kindergarten through twelfth
grade. Another 15 million students attend colleges and universities
across the country. While U.S. schools remain relatively safe,
any amount of violence is unacceptable. Parents, teachers,
and administrators expect schools to be safe havens of learning.
Acts of violence can disrupt the learning process and have
a negative effect on students, the school itself, and the
broader community (CDC, n.d.).
According to the US Department of Justice,
Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Education
Statistics, in their 2005 report, Indicators of School
Crime and Safety, 2005:
- Nationally, from July 1, 2001, through June 30,
2002, there were 17 homicides and 5 suicides of school-age
youth (ages 5-19) at school.
- Annually, from 1999 through 2003, teachers were the victims
of approximately 183,000 total nonfatal crimes at school,
including 119,000 thefts and 65,000 violent crimes.
- In 1999-2000, about 54% of public schools took at least
one serious disciplinary action against a student, amounting
to about 1,163,000 actions.
Deadly school violence - Results from a study by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of
the National Institutes of Health, indicate that nationally
between July 1, 1994, and June 30, 1999, 253 violent deaths
occurred on school property, on the way to or from school,
or at or on the way to or from a school-sponsored event. The
majority of these incidents were homicides involving firearms.
These violent deaths occurred in communities of all sizes,
locales, income levels, and racial and ethnic make-up. Preliminary
results also show that, while the number of school-associated
violent death events has decreased steadily since the 1992-1993
school year, the occurrence of multiple-victim events-those
with two or more deaths per event-appears to have increased.
During the four school years from August 1995 through June
1999, there were 15 multiple-victim events; only three such
events occurred between August 1992 and July 1995 (CDC, 2002).
Bullying - Almost 30% of youth in the United States
(or over 5.7 million) are estimated to be involved in bullying
as either a bully, a target of bullying, or both. In a recent
national survey of students in grades 6-10, 13% reported bullying
others, 11% reported being the target of bullies, and another
6% said that they bullied others and were bullied themselves
(NYVPRC, 2007).
Gangs - Youth gangs are linked with serious crime
problems in elementary and secondary schools in the United
States. Students report much higher drug availability when
gangs are active at their school. Schools with gangs have
nearly double the likelihood of violent victimization at school
than those without a gang presence. Teens that are gang members
are much more likely than other teens to commit serious and
violent crimes. For example, a survey in Denver found that
while only 14% of teens were gang members, they were responsible
for committing 89% of the serious violent crimes (NYVPRC,
2007a).
According to the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
(CDC, 2008a), which provides national information,
among U.S. high school students:
Weapons
- 18% carried a weapon, such as a gun, knife, or club.
(1)
- 5% carried a gun. (1)
- 6% carried a weapon, such as a gun, knife, or club,
on school property. (1)
- 8% had been threatened or injured with a weapon, such
as a gun, knife, or club, on school property. (2)
Physical Violence
- 36% were in a physical fight. (2)
- 4% were injured in a physical fight and had to be treated
by a doctor or nurse. (2)
- 12% were in a physical fight on school property. (2)
- 10% were hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose
by their boyfriend or girlfriend. (3)
Security
- 6% did not go to school because they felt unsafe at
school or on their way to or from school. (1)
- 27% had property, such as a car, clothing, or books,
stolen or deliberately damaged on school property. (2)
1 On at least 1 day during the 30 days
before the survey.
2 One or more times during the 12 months before the survey.
3 During the 12 months before the survey.
The 2007, the same Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
survey, (CDC, 2008a), indicated that among high school students
in New York State:
Weapons
- 14% carried a weapon, such as a gun, knife, or club.
(4)
- 5% carried a gun. (4)
- 5% carried a weapon, such as a gun, knife, or club,
on school property. (4)
- 7% had been threatened or injured with a weapon, such
as a gun, knife, or club, on school property. (5)
Physical Violence
- 32% were in a physical fight. (5)
- 5% were injured in a physical fight and had to be treated
by a doctor or nurse. (5)
- 12% were in a physical fight on school property. (5)
- 12% were hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose
by their boyfriend or girlfriend. (6)
Security
- 7% did not go to school because they felt unsafe at
school or on their way to or from school. (4)
- 24% had property, such as a car, clothing, or books,
stolen or deliberately damaged on school property. (5)
4 On at least 1 day during the 30 days
before the survey.
5 One or more times during the 12 months before the survey.
6 During the 12 months before the survey.
The 2006 New York School Health Profiles indicates
that among middle schools and high schools:
Health Education
- 60% required students to take two or more health education
courses.
- 93% tried to increase student knowledge on violence
prevention in a required health education course.
- 90% tried to improve student conflict resolution skills,
such as techniques to resolve interpersonal conflicts
without fighting in a required health education course.
- 65% had a lead health education teacher who received
staff development during the past two years on violence
prevention.
Violence Prevention Programs
- 8% had or participated in a safe-passages to school
program.
- 22% had or participated in a program to prevent gang
violence.
- 69% had or participated in a program to prevent bullying.
School Environment
- 87% used staff or adult volunteers to monitor school
halls during and between classes.
- 100% required visitors to report to the main office
or reception area upon arrival.
- 83% maintained a "closed campus" where students are
not allowed to leave school during the day, including
during lunchtime.
- 43% routinely conducted locker searches.
- 9% required students to wear identification badges.
- 64% used security or surveillance cameras, either inside
or outside the school building.
- 64% used police, school resource officers, or security
guards during the regular school day.
Continue on to
|
|
