Student: Szidonia Szasz

University: Dimitrie Cantemir-Psychology

SCHOOL VIOLENCE

Violence among young people in society is increasing dramatically. Perhaps what is most
alarming is that these violent acts are not only occurring on the streets, but in the school
systems as well. School violence is defined as any physical or verbal attack on a person while on
school grounds or on school property.
The causes of school violence may be countless, but we can classify them into four categories
including individual, family, school, and community risk factors. On individual side, there are
many factors affect violent trend of individual such as aggressiveness, any substance abuse,
internal character lower intelligence, birth complications and so on. However, the rate of these
effects is rare because most children were born with a good-natured character. With time,
these characters gradually change and being impacted by surrounding environments. Individual
risk factors can only cause violence when they were ignored by adults. On family risk factors,
family play a vital role in creating or stopping violent condition at children because everything
begins from the initial stage. History of family crime and violence, lower or lack of expectations
by parents, the lack of monitoring by parents, parental involvement in drugs, child abuse and
neglect can cause violent condition at children. How can a child become a good person when
they live in such a bad condition? They will think violence is normal and carry out them at
school. On school aspect, a school is a place where children are taught the right things in life,
but the life for elementary, middle, and high school students has never been easy. Young
people have always had to cope with academic pressures, extracurricular demands, and
conflicts with their peers school. The risk factors include such things as early delinquent
behaviors, academic failure, lack of commitment to school, and gang involvement. On
community issues, no one can live separating from community or society unless they want to
have a non – attachment life, so effects of community can not be ignored. The risk community
factors can be availability of weapons, drugs, violence, large numbers of broken families, high
transient populations, and economic deprivation. Especially, the spread of violence in television
programs, movies, and video games has created a dangerous imitation for children.

Factors Which Increase Risk of Violent Behavior

Numerous research studies have concluded that a complex interaction or combination of factors
leads to an increased risk of violent behavior in children and adolescents. These factors include:
  Previous aggressive or violent behavior
 Being the victim of physical abuse and/or sexual abuse
 Exposure to violence in the home and/or community
 Being the victim of bullying
 Genetic (family heredity) factors
 Exposure to violence in media (TV, movies, etc.)
 Use of drugs and/or alcohol
 Presence of firearms in home
 Combination of stressful family socioeconomic factors (poverty, severe deprivation,
marital breakup, single parenting, unemployment, loss of support from extended family)
 Brain damage from head injury

What are the "warning signs" for violent behavior in children?

Children who have several risk factors and show the following behaviors should be carefully
evaluated:

 Intense anger
 Frequent loss of temper or blow-ups
 Extreme irritability
 Extreme impulsiveness
 Becoming easily frustrated

Parents and teachers should be careful not to minimize these behaviors in children.

What can be done if a child shows violent behavior?

Whenever a parent or other adult is concerned, they should immediately arrange for a
comprehensive evaluation by a qualified mental health professional. Early treatment by a
professional can often help. The goals of treatment typically focus on helping the child to: learn
how to control his/her anger; express anger and frustrations in appropriate ways; be responsible
for his/her actions; and accept consequences. In addition, family conflicts, school problems, and
community issues must be addressed.

11 Interesting facts about school violence:

1. In 2011, 20% of high school students were bullied at school, and 33% reported being
involved in a physical fight in the last year.
2. In one month, nearly 6% of high schoolers stayed home because they felt unsafe at or on
their way to school.
3. More than 7% of 9th through 12th graders reported being threatened or injured with a
weapon on school property at least once in the last year. An additional 6% admitted to
bringing a weapon to school for protection.
4. More than 50% of children who have been bullied online do not report the behavior to
their parents, leaving their parents with no idea regarding this behavior.
 5. In 2011, one million children were harassed, threatened, or subjected to other forms of
cyberbullying on Facebook
6. Violent school threats have increased by 158% from 2010 to 2011.

7. Only 39% of schools in the 2009-2010 school year took serious disciplinary action against
a student for special offenses. Actions included out-of-school suspension, expulsion, or
transfer to a specialty school.

8. In the U.S., 33 school-associated violent deaths occurred in the 2009-2010 school year
including homicides, suicides, and legal interventions. 18 of these occurred on school
property.

9. Some of the signs of bullying include: 1) physical marks, such as cuts or bruises, 2) fear of
riding bus to school, 3) depression, anxiety, or moodiness lasting more than a couple of
weeks, 4) sudden loss of friends.

10.In recent years, assault by weapon, cases of intimidation and bullying, and alcohol
possession have all more than doubled on school properties.

11.Drug possessions at school more than doubled from 2005 to 2011. Teachers confirm that
violence may not be spiking, but records are being kept much more accurately than in the
past.

Research studies have shown that much violent behavior can be decreased or even prevented if
the above risk factors are significantly reduced or eliminated. Most importantly, efforts should be
directed at dramatically decreasing the exposure of children and adolescents to violence in the
home, community, and through the media. Clearly, violence leads to violence.

In addition, the following strategies can lessen or prevent violent behavior:

 Prevention of child abuse (use of programs such as parent training, family support
programs, etc.)
 Sex education and parenting programs for adolescents
 Early identification and intervention programs for violent youngsters
 Monitoring child's viewing of violence during their screen time including the Internet,
tablets, smartphones, TV, videos, and movies.

To stop the violence in school is not a week, a month or a year task, but it's a process of a
generation or more.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Catherine DePino: "School Violence"
Wikipedia: "School Violence"
DoSomething.org | Volunteer for Social Change: "11 Facts About School Violence."