School Violence Essay, Research Paper

E.C. Report- School Violence

Columbine. Kent State. These are just a couple of famous schools that were unfortunately involved in a crime that is prevailing in American society. School violence is an issue that has received widespread attention, but no real solutions have been found to combat the problem. It seems that schools aren t safe anymore. This paper will show several reasons why.

Overall, while crime clearly is occurring within schools, the rates of violent crimes and weapons violations within schools are declining. However, the impact of the recent high-profile incidents has increased levels of fear. Despite this increase, youth actually are much less likely to be victims of violent crime while in school than out. A few of the more notable trends of violence and crime in schools are fear, threats and injuries, serious violent crime, theft, weapons in schools, and violence and threats against teachers.

Fear- The overall level of school violence is both low and stable, but fear of in-school violence has increased. For example, one particular study indicates that between 1989 and 1995, the percentage of students fearing attack in school rose from 6% to 9%, and students who reported fearing attack on the way to or from school rose from 4% to 7%. Additionally, a recent survey of high school students found that fear of school violence kept 5% of students home at least once in the month prior to being surveyed.

Threats and Injuries- Along with the i8ncrease in fear, the percentage of students who have been threatened also has increased. While not enough is known about threats of violence to students while in school, in 1996, 13% of all 12th-grade students reported that someone had threatened them with a weapon and 22% reported that they were threatened by someone without a weapon.

Serious Violent Crime- Youth are much less likely to be victims of nonfatal serious violent crime (rape, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault) while in school than in their community. Despite this, for he 1996-97 school year, 10% of all public schools reported one or more incidents of rape, sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated assault. There are, however, significant differences in the amount and seriousness of violence occurring in elementary, middle, and high schools. 45% of elementary schools reported one or more violent incident compared with 74% of middle schools and 77% of high schools during the 1996-97 school year.

Theft- The most common school-related crime is theft, which accounts for approximately 62% of all crimes against students. Students are more likely to be victims of theft while at school than while away from school.

Weapons at School- During the 1997-98 school year, nearly a million students carried guns to school. Despite this, the number of youth bringing guns into schools has dropped. Between 1993 and 1996, male high school seniors who reported carrying a weapon to school within a 4-week period dropped from 14% in 1993 to 9% in 1996. During the 1996-97 school year, 6,093 students were expelled from bringing firearms or explosives to school. As for females carrying guns, the percentage remained fairly consistent at 2-3%.

Violence and threats to teachers- Teachers are victims of approximately 18,000 serious crimes per year. While these rates fluctuate with the race and sex of the teacher as well as the location of the school, male teachers are often the target of crime and violence. Additionally, in terms of threats, during the 1993-94 school year, 12% of teachers, or 341,000, were threatened and 4%, or 120,000, were physically attacked by a student.

As one can see, the threat is often as serious as the actual crime. The numbers are staggering when viewed. Hopefully, with a new election coming up, the people can elect a president that will actually do something about this national epidemic. Only time will tell if the problem of school violence can be solved.

E.C. Report- School Violence

Columbine. Kent State. These are just a couple of famous schools that were unfortunately involved in a crime that is prevailing in American society. School violence is an issue that has received widespread attention, but no real solutions have been found to combat the problem. It seems that schools aren t safe anymore. This paper will show several reasons why.

Overall, while crime clearly is occurring within schools, the rates of violent crimes and weapons violations within schools are declining. However, the impact of the recent high-profile incidents has increased levels of fear. Despite this increase, youth actually are much less likely to be victims of violent crime while in school than out. A few of the more notable trends of violence and crime in schools are fear, threats and injuries, serious violent crime, theft, weapons in schools, and violence and threats against teachers.

Fear- The overall level of school violence is both low and stable, but fear of in-school violence has increased. For example, one particular study indicates that between 1989 and 1995, the percentage of students fearing attack in school rose from 6% to 9%, and students who reported fearing attack on the way to or from school rose from 4% to 7%. Additionally, a recent survey of high school students found that fear of school violence kept 5% of students home at least once in the month prior to being surveyed.

Threats and Injuries- Along with the i8ncrease in fear, the percentage of students who have been threatened also has increased. While not enough is known about threats of violence to students while in school, in 1996, 13% of all 12th-grade students reported that someone had threatened them with a weapon and 22% reported that they were threatened by someone without a weapon.

Serious Violent Crime- Youth are much less likely to be victims of nonfatal serious violent crime (rape, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault) while in school than in their community. Despite this, for he 1996-97 school year, 10% of all public schools reported one or more incidents of rape, sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated assault. There are, however, significant differences in the amount and seriousness of violence occurring in elementary, middle, and high schools. 45% of elementary schools reported one or more violent incident compared with 74% of middle schools and 77% of high schools during the 1996-97 school year.

Theft- The most common school-related crime is theft, which accounts for approximately 62% of all crimes against students. Students are more likely to be victims of theft while at school than while away from school.

Weapons at School- During the 1997-98 school year, nearly a million students carried guns to school. Despite this, the number of youth bringing guns into schools has dropped. Between 1993 and 1996, male high school seniors who reported carrying a weapon to school within a 4-week period dropped from 14% in 1993 to 9% in 1996. During the 1996-97 school year, 6,093 students were expelled from bringing firearms or explosives to school. As for females carrying guns, the percentage remained fairly consistent at 2-3%.

Violence and threats to teachers- Teachers are victims of approximately 18,000 serious crimes per year. While these rates fluctuate with the race and sex of the teacher as well as the location of the school, male teachers are often the target of crime and violence. Additionally, in terms of threats, during the 1993-94 school year, 12% of teachers, or 341,000, were threatened and 4%, or 120,000, were physically attacked by a student.

As one can see, the threat is often as serious as the actual crime. The numbers are staggering when viewed. Hopefully, with a new election coming up, the people can elect a president that will actually do something about this national epidemic. Only time will tell if the problem of school violence can be solved.

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