violence in schools essay

Violence in Schools Seems to Be Increasing. Why?

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Following the return of most U.S. schoolchildren to full-time, in-person learning, a raft of anecdotal reports indicate that violence may be rising in K-12 schools.

Teachers are reporting breaking up fights in schools and are raising concerns about their own safety. Students have been caught with guns or other weapons on campuses in several high-profile incidents. And school shootings in 2021, though still very rare, are on track to surpass their pre-pandemic high.

But if an actual surge is taking place, what’s causing it? Will it reshape the contours of the fractious school-safety conversation? And what do district leaders need to consider as they try to respond?

Criminologists note that the nation is in the grip of a general spike of violence probably due to the pandemic and social unrest accompanying the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Their best guess is that those trends are trickling inexorably, and tragically, down to K-12 students.

“You study these things for so long and then you throw the rule book out. No one really knows why we’ve got the trends and violence we’re seeing right now,” said James A. Densley, a professor of criminal justice at Metropolitan State University, in St. Paul, Minn., who studies gun violence. “But I think at the same time, we’re coming to the same sorts of conclusions.

“It’s a combination of the pandemic; a lack of trust in our institutions, particularly law enforcement; the presence of guns; the toxic, divisive, contentious times we live in. They’re all interacting together.”

What do we know about rates of school crime?

No recent, nationally representative data set exists to confirm that there have been more violent incidents so far in the 2021-22 school year, due to reporting lags and the generally disparate nature of the data across thousands of school systems.

The most-recent federal collection on school safety found that some types of violent crimes were on the rise as of the 2017-18 school year, though the figures still fell far below overall crime levels in schools in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Anecdotally, though, teachers, principals, and educators now say they are seeing an increase that has roughly paralleled the return of most students to in-person schooling.

In Anchorage, Alaska, fights and assaults are making up more of the suspensions issued so far this year. A brawl and stabbing in an Annapolis, Md., high school led to seven juvenile arrests. Pupils damaged elementary classrooms in Vermont, overturning furniture and supply bins. Parents in Baltimore County, Md., organized a protest in response to a perceived increase in violence. In Shreveport, La., a group of fathers are now taking shifts greeting students at the high school after 23 students were arrested in a one-week period.

The rhetoric surrounding these kinds of incidents is often red hot, with administrators and parents warning about even more-dire consequences if district leaders don’t do something now.

“Our students are sending us warning shots. Literal warning shots,” said Peter Balas, a principal at Alexandria City High School, in Alexandria Va., at a city council meeting earlier this month. Shortly after, the council voted to temporarily restore school police officers, who had been pulled from buildings last year in the wake of a wave of national protests about police violence. (A spokeswoman for the district denied a request to follow up with the principal.)

Teachers, too, have reported being victims of violence at school.

In Rochester, N.Y., high school English teacher Corrine Mundorff was in the middle of trying to break up a fight when, she says, a student sexually assaulted her , repeatedly groping her after she told the student not to.

The troubled city has long suffered from generational poverty and high crime rates. With so many kids out of school last year, some seem to have pulled into neighborhood turf squabbles, she said.

“We have some issues that we’ve been dealing with for years and years. This year, however we have brought our kids back—23,000 of them—and for some reason we’ve decided we were going to pretend the pandemic had never happened and ignore 18 months of trauma induced by the pandemic students have experienced,” Mundorff said in an interview. “And we’ve just had these arguments, these conflicts that ignited on day one. The violence that had been happening outside of the school just carried over.”

School shooting on par with pre-pandemic levels

Disparate sources of data generally support the notion that what’s happening in schools this year is actually a reflection of general trends.

National homicide rates soared in 2020 , according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, although other types of crime generally continued a steady decline. And Americans have been on a gun-buying spree during the pandemic. There are now simply more guns in desk drawers, on the streets, and in cabinets.

School shootings are also on track to outpace the figures in 2018 and 2019.

Education Week began its own tracker of school related shootings in 2018 in an attempt to cut through the morass of different definitions used by federal agencies and researchers. Our criteria are more restrictive than other collections. It includes only those incidents that take place during school hours or events, on school property, and in which at least one individual is wounded by a bullet.

According to EdWeek’s criteria, as of Monday of this week, there have been 24 incidents so far this year, resulting in 40 deaths or injuries . Two-thirds of these incidents occurred on or after Aug 1. There were also 24 incidents each in 2018 and 2019.

(The gun-control organization Everytown USA, which has more expansive criteria, also shows this year’s school shooting figures paralleling 2019’s.)

Recent Data: School Shootings

In 2018, Education Week journalists began tracking shootings on K-12 school property that resulted in firearm-related injuries or deaths. There is no single right way of calculating numbers like this, and the human toll is impossible to measure. We hope only to provide reliable information to help inform discussions, debates, and paths forward. Below, you can find big-picture data on school shootings since 2018. (This chart will be updated as new information becomes available.)

See Also: School Shootings This Year: How Many and Where

Details of the incidents are distressingly familiar. At least six began with fights or altercations between students that spilled over into gun violence. Six occurred at—or just following— football games . Three appear to have been precipitated by a pattern of bullying.

School shootings nevertheless remain exceptionally rare, and the small sample makes EdWeek’s collection a limited proxy for trying to determine overall violence trends. But the Gun Violence Archive , a nonprofit that tracks and confirms shootings from thousands of data sources, found that more children, not fewer, were harmed by gun violence in 2020, when many students were working from home, than in each of the past seven years.

Finally, children, like adults, are tired, isolated, and traumatized by the last 20 months. The numbers of children visiting emergency rooms for mental-health issues increased dramatically in a seven-month period in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, causing three children’s health organizations recently to declare a mental health state of emergency.

The nation is still in the crisis of the pandemic with no real end in sight, pointed out Margaret A. Sedor, a school psychologist and a member of the National Association of School Psychologists’ school safety and crisis response committee. And students can display a range of crisis reactions, which may include aggression, in response to the losses of the last two years.

“They’ve had almost two years of being socialized and acculturated in a different way, and we need to acknowledge and support community re-engagement,” she said.

What it all adds up to, said Densley, is this: The global pandemic has exacerbated risk factors for violence in general, like loneliness, isolation, and economic instability. Violence also tends to rise at times of uncertainty, especially when distrust in public institutions is high. And social media serves as an accelerant, whipping up anger and frenzy.

“Now you tie that together with last year’s record gun sales—and we’ve got more people carrying guns in public because of more lax laws in that regard,” he said. “And you can sort of put two and two together and say guns are just more likely to be found in the hands of juveniles.”

Some districts consider a return to school-based policing

Those sobering conclusions seem primed to restart an already searing debate over the role that school resource officers and other safety personnel play in schools.

Earlier this summer, Education Week found that a small number of U.S. school districts remove d police officers or cut their school-policing budgets in the wake of racial-justice protests in 2020. Some of those communities, like Alexandria, Va., are now beginning to have second thoughts.

In Rochester, the president of the teachers’ union and three other labor groups representing educators recently demanded that the district consider several options, including restoring SROs in high schools, increasing the number of school safety officers, and offering evening or remote learning options for disruptive students.

The district did not respond to a request for comment on its safety plans. Its superintendent has acknowledged the concerns about violence in public statements.

In other places, advocates fear that more violence could put paid to longstanding efforts there to remove school officers.

The Shelby County district, which includes Memphis, has resuscitated the idea of a “peace force” staffed by district-hired police officers in the wake of a harrowing shooting at a public K-8 school in late September, apparently prompted by bullying, that left one student in critical condition.

“I’m very concerned about the child, obviously. But my second thought is, ‘Oh no, what does this do to trying to get law enforcement out of schools?’ Because so many people think [having a police officer] is like a Band-Aid,” said Cardell Orrin, the Memphis executive director at Stand for Children Tennessee, which has pushed to remove sheriffs’ deputies from schools. “It makes people feel better rather than solving the challenges, and it potentially further criminalizes children. That is the fear, and I think that’s the fear nationally, too.”

Researchers continue to learn more about SROs and the tradeoffs that having them can mean for students. In an important study released earlier this month , a team of researchers studying federal data found that having an SRO did reduce some violent incidents in schools, mainly fights, but did not appear to reduce shootings or firearm-related incidents.

And their presence came at a high price: It meant that a higher proportion of students were suspended, arrested, or referred to the juvenile-justice systems, and the toll fell disproportionately on Black students. (The research has not yet been peer reviewed.)

Districts will need to honor the complexities

Even these new insights, though, don’t always make it clear what’s happening in the black box. For one thing, it’s ultimately principals who make the call on whether to suspend students, not officers themselves, and principals who, alongside officers, can refer students into the juvenile justice system. Put another way, the research appears to point to broader cultural problems in schools.

People want to see what you’re doing for safety, and police are very visible. Connecting kids with resources or using social workers or school psychologists—those things are not as kind of in-your-face or apparent.

The body of school safety literature invariably recommends that improved school culture and safety hinge on strong relationships between adults and students.

Getting kids back into school and back in routines and being reconnected with their peers and classmates is a critical step, said Sedor, the school psychologist. But it demands that districts think systematically about how to support students, and that they move from merely reacting to incidents to intervention and wellness-promotion efforts.

“I think it’s bringing folks together and acknowledging that things have changed and talking about fear and loss, and then problem-solving and strengthening coping strategies,” she said. “It’s about relationships and being able to listen.”

But desperate to respond to frightened communities, districts often seek out immediate, tangible improvements rather than the painstaking work of improving school culture. For good or ill, police officers and other hardening measures—fences, metal detectors, bulletproof glass—signify safety, even though, for the most part, not much evidence suggests they contribute to safer schools.

“People want to see what you’re doing for safety, and police are very visible. Connecting kids with resources or using social workers or school psychologists—those things are not as kind of in-your-face or apparent,” noted Joe McKenna, a senior research associate at WestEd’s Justice & Prevention Research Center.

Even teachers who say they’re close to their breaking points acknowledge the complex calculus.

“I know that teachers are annoyed that the focus keeps going to school resources officers because there are so many more levels to it, and everyone just focuses on them,” said Mundorff, the Rochester teacher. “Would it be helpful to have one? Sure. Does that solve all our problems? Absolutely not. We have three social workers for 952 students who are carrying tons of trauma. And now we have students who weren’t carrying trauma before the pandemic and the ones before are carrying a ton more.”

In Madison, Wis., Gloria Reyes represents the radical middle when it comes to the ongoing school safety conversation.

A former law enforcement officer, she served on the city school board when it voted in June 2020 to remove SROs. She now teaches classes, including on racism within the criminal justice system at Madison College, and runs a local nonprofit.

She strongly supports the restorative justice programs that have replaced school policing in the district, but she’s also concerned that teachers and other educators aren’t well trained to respond to incidents of violence. And while she agrees that communities have for far too long relied on police for things they shouldn’t, they’ve simultaneously neglected other critical social investments, she notes.

If rising violence is due to a simple equation—that hurt kids hurt other kids—the solution, she fears, is complex.

“We have to have professionals out in our communities, visiting with families and visiting with children and doing the outreach and support,” Reyes said. “You know, it’s going to take families, parents, teachers, social workers—it’s going to take everyone to prevent fighting.”

A version of this article appeared in the November 17, 2021 edition of Education Week as Violence in Schools Seems To Be Increasing. Why?

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88 School Violence Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best school violence topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 good essay topics on school violence, 🔎 simple & easy school violence essay titles, ❓ school violence research questions.

• How to Prevent School Violence According to Hauser of “The New York Times” newspaper on the day of the tragedy, thirty-three people were involved in a mass murder at the university after one of the student: Cho went round the […]
• How Media Promotes School Violence? Exposure to media violence encourages violent and aggressive behaviors in children, introduces new concepts of violence that children have been unaware of, and augments negative experiences of violence and abuse.
• Youth Violence in Schools Paraphrase of the above quotation: The media desensitizes violence and increases aggressive and antisocial behavior, despite this, most youths are constantly exposed to violence and gore in the virtual world which is where they spend […]
• “Bowling for Columbine” and “Elephant”: The Problem of School Violence Still, the work by Moore is addressed not only to the American people but to the consciousness of every person throughout the world.”Although the movie provides only a partial account of intervention abroad, it offers […]
• Violence in United States High Schools The second reason is a low amount of community participation. The last reason is a high tendency of people to take up temporary residence in the community.
• Reducing Violence at School: Action Plan While uncovering the roots of the issue, the provided action plan addresses initiatives to help reduce the prevalence of youth violence and diminish its impact on the rest of children.
• Domestic Violence and Bullying in Schools It also states the major variables related to bullying in schools. They will confirm that social-economic status, gender, and race can contribute to bullying in schools.
• School Violence in the U.S. Education System An overview of recent studies on the subject matter indicates that the ways in which adolescents channel their negative feelings at school, as well as the factors that cause these feelings to occur in the […]
• School Violence and Safety Measures A comprehensive program that allows encompassing the factors in the specified domains will contribute to a drop in the levels of school violence, thus, creating a safer environment for learners.
• School Violence and Academic Achievements Burdick-Will addresses the problem of safety in modern schools by scrutinizing the factors that contribute to the development of school violence.
• Violence, Security and Crime Prevention at School The second type of violence is the one directed toward employees by students, parents, or any other category of people served by the school.
• School Violence Causes and Intervention Many psychologists would refer the roots of such violence to be from experiences of individual imbalance, poor parenting and lack of ways to uphold traditional practices and eventually having a guilty conscience which drives most […]
• Social Psychology of Violence and Bullying in Schools Bullying is a common phenomenon in schools and it is reported that it results in violence in learning institutions in the end.
• The Relations Between Media and School Violence Framing shows the power to communicate a text to the desired population and analysis of the framing of the news helps to understand the influence that the news may have on the human consciousness.
• School Violence in the USA: Causes and Solutions Arguably one of the factors that have led to the increase in the rates of school violence is the increased possession of firearms by school age children as well as the relative ease of access […]
• Review of “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift and Its Application to Solve School Violence Having analyzed violence in schools and the age of children maturity I have thus reached to a conclusion that this plan will be better applied to children under the age of 14.
• Dangers Involved With School Violence
• The Need for Gun Control to Stop School Violence
• High School Violence Among Adolescent and Youth Behavior
• School Violence Risks Kids Face
• Approaches to Coping With School Violence
• School Violence: Cause and Remedies
• Does School Violence Starts at Home
• The Relationship Between School Violence and Student Proficiency
• School Violence and Its Effect on Children
• Conflict Resolution and Mediation to End School Violence
• Solutions for Juvenile School Violence
• Bullying and School Violence: The Colombine High School Shooting
• School Violence Has Become an Issue for Education
• Fighting and School Violence Should Not Be Tolerated
• Why School Violence Have Such of an Effect on Our Society
• Educational and Psychological Analysis of School Violence
• School Violence: How Does It Affect Teens Throughout the Nation
• The Causes, Effects, and Solutions of School Violence
• The School Violence and Its Main Source
• The Nature and Scope of School Violence
• School Violence: Physical and Verbal Attack
• High School Violence and Collegiate Athletics
• The Effects of School Violence on Today ‘s Youth
• The Increase of School Violence in America
• School Violence and Its Effect on Society
• School Violence Effects on Juveniles
• Increasing Student Achievement Through Preventing School Violence
• Do Video Games Cause of School Violence
• The Types and Causes of School Violence
• Critical Factors Affecting School Violence
• School Violence and Its Effects on the Performance of Students in Schools
• School Violence Effects on School Shootings
• Techniques for Reducing School Violence
• School Violence Prevention and Profiling Controversy
• Uniforms Cannot Control School Violence
• Social Work and the Impact of School Violence
• School Violence and Its Effects on School
• Finding the Reason Behind the Problem of School Violence
• Examining Causes of School Violence and Solutions to the Problem
• School Violence: Why Children Bring Guns to School
• What Is the Main Cause of School Violence?
• How Can We Stop School Violence?
• Why School Violence Is a Problem?
• How Does School Violence Affect Students?
• Why Is It Important to Avoid School Violence?
• How Do Teachers Prevent School Violence?
• What Are Types of Violence in School?
• How Can We Prevent Youth School Violence?
• Is Yelling a Form of School Violence?
• How Do You Respond to School Violence?
• What School Violence Occurs in Today?
• How Common Are School Violence?
• What Types of Students Are Most Affected by School Violence?
• What Is the Best Deterrent to School Violence?
• How Does School Violence Affect Teachers?
• How Can School Violence Take Place Other Than Between Learners?
• How Does School Violence Impact Learning?
• How Does School Violence Affect a Child’s Future?
• How Can Parents Influence School Violence?
• What Percentage of Teachers Commit School Violence?
• What Is the Most Common Form of School Violence?
• Does a Psychologist Help to Get Rid of Problems After the Consequences of School Violence?
• Does Sport Help to Get Rid of School Violence?
• What Books Will Help You Avoid School Violence?
• How to Behave During School Violence?
• Is It Necessary to Enter the Subject in the School Curriculum as “School Violence”?
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How to Identify and Prevent School Violence

Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Ann-Louise T. Lockhart, PsyD, ABPP, is a board-certified pediatric psychologist, parent coach, author, speaker, and owner of A New Day Pediatric Psychology, PLLC.

Yasser Chalid / Getty Images

Recognizing the Signs of School Violence

School violence refers to violence that takes place in a school setting. This includes violence on school property, on the way to or from school, and at school trips and events. It may be committed by students, teachers, or other members of the school staff; however, violence by fellow students is the most common.

An estimated 246 million children experience school violence every year; however, girls and gender non-conforming people are disproportionately affected.

"School violence can be anything that involves a real or implied threat—it can be verbal, sexual, or physical, and perpetrated with or without weapons. If someone is deliberately harming someone or acting in a way that leaves someone feeling threatened, that‘s school violence,” says Aimee Daramus , PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist.

This article explores the types, causes, and impact of school violence and suggests some steps that can help prevent it.

Types of School Violence

School violence can take many forms. These are some of the types of school violence:

• Physical violence , which includes any kind of physical aggression, the use of weapons, as well as criminal acts like theft or arson.
• Psychological violence , which includes emotional and verbal abuse . This may involve insulting, threatening, ignoring, isolating, rejecting, name-calling, humiliating, ridiculing, rumor-mongering, lying, or punishing another person.
• Sexual violence , which includes sexual harrassment, sexual intimidation, unwanted touching, sexual coercion, and rape .
• Bullying , which can take physical, psychological, or sexual forms and is characterized by repeated and intentional aggression toward another person.
• Cyberbullying , which includes sexual or psychological abuse by people connected through school on social media or other online platforms. This may involve posting false information, hurtful comments, malicious rumors, or embarrassing photos or videos online. Cyberbullying can also take the form of excluding someone from online groups or networks.

Causes of School Violence

There often isn’t a simple, straightforward reason why someone engages in school violence. A child may have been bullied or rejected by a peer, may be under a lot of academic pressure, or may be enacting something they’ve seen at home, in their neighborhood, on television, or in a video game.

These are some of the risk factors that can make a child more likely to commit school violence:

• Poor academic performance
• Prior history of violence
• Hyperactive or impulsive personality
• Mental health conditions
• Witnessing or being a victim of violence
• Alcohol, drug, or tobacco use
• Dysfunctional family dynamic
• Domestic violence or abuse
• Access to weapons
• Delinquent peers
• Poverty or high crime rates in the community

It’s important to note that the presence of these factors doesn’t necessarily mean that the child will engage in violent behavior.

Impact of School Violence

Below, Dr. Daramus explains how school violence can affect children who commit, experience, and witness it, as well as their parents.

Impact on Children Committing Violence

Children who have been victims of violence or exposed to it in some capacity sometimes believe that becoming violent is the only way they‘ll ever be safe.

When they commit violence, they may experience a sense of satisfaction when their emotional need for strength or safety is satisfied. That‘s short-lived however, because they start to fear punishment or retribution, which triggers anger that can sometimes lead to more violence if they’re scared of what might happen to them if they don’t protect themselves. 

Children need help to try and break the cycle; they need to understand that violence can be temporarily satisfying but that it leads to more problems.

Impact on Children Victimized by School Violence

Victims of school violence may get physically injured and experience cuts, scrapes, bruises, broken bones, gunshot wounds, concussions, physical disability, or death.

Emotionally speaking, the child might experience depression , anxiety, or rage. Their academic performance may suffer because it can be hard to focus in school when all you can think about is how to avoid being hurt again.

School violence is traumatic and can cause considerable psychological distress. Traumatic experiences can be difficult for adults too; however, when someone whose brain is not fully developed yet experiences trauma, especially if it’s over a long time, their brain can switch to survival mode, which can affect their attention, concentration, emotional control, and long-term health. 

According to a 2019 study, children who have experienced school violence are at risk for long-term mental and physical health conditions, including attachment disorders, substance abuse, obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and respiratory conditions.

The more adverse childhood experiences someone has, the greater the risk to their physical and mental health as an adult.

Impact on Children Who Witness School Violence

Children who witness school violence may feel guilty about seeing it and being too afraid to stop it. They may also feel threatened, and their brain may react in a similar way to a child who has faced school violence.

Additionally, when children experience or witness trauma , their basic beliefs about life and other people are often changed. They no longer believe that the world is safe, which can be damaging to their mental health.

For a child to be able to take care of themselves as they get older, they need to first feel safe and cared for. Learning to cope with threats is an advanced lesson that has to be built on a foundation of feeling safe and self-confident.

Children who have experienced or witnessed school violence can benefit from therapy, which can help them process the trauma, regulate their emotions, and learn coping skills to help them heal.

Impact on Parents

Parents react to school violence in all kinds of ways. Some parents encourage their children to bully others, believing that violence is strength. Some try to teach their children how to act in a way that won’t attract bullying or other violence, but that never works and it may teach the child to blame themselves for being bullied. 

Others are proactive and try to work with the school or challenge the school if necessary, to try and keep their child safe. 

It can be helpful to look out for warning signs of violence, which can include:

• Talking about or playing with weapons of any kind
• Harming pets or other animals
• Threatening or bullying others
• Talking about violence, violent movies, or violent games
• Speaking or acting aggressively

It’s important to report these signs to parents, teachers, or school authorities. The child may need help and support, and benefit from intervention .

Preventing School Violence

Dr. Daramus shares some steps that can help prevent school violence:

• Report it to the school: Report any hint of violent behavior to school authorities. Tips can be a huge help in fighting school violence. Many schools allow students to report tips anonymously.
• Inform adults: Children who witness or experience violence should keep telling adults (parents, teachers, and counselors) until someone does something. If an adult hears complaints about a specific child from multiple people, they may be able to protect other students and possibly help the child engaging in violence to learn different ways.
• Reach out to people: Reach out to children or other people at the school who seem to be angry or upset, or appear fascinated with violence. Reach out to any child, whether bullied, bullying, or neither, who seems to have anxiety, depression, or trouble managing emotions. Most of the time the child won’t be violent, but you’ll have helped them anyway by being supportive.

A Word From Verywell

School violence can be traumatic for everyone involved, particularly children. It’s important to take steps to prevent it because children who witness or experience school violence may suffer physical and mental health consequences that can persist well into adulthood.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing school violence .

UNESCO. What you need to know about school violence and bullying .

UNESCO. School violence and bullying .

Nemours Foundation. School violence: what students can do .

Ehiri JE, Hitchcock LI, Ejere HO, Mytton JA. Primary prevention interventions for reducing school violence . Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2017;2017(3):CD006347. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006347.pub2

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Understanding school violence .

Ferrara P, Franceschini G, Villani A, Corsello G. Physical, psychological and social impact of school violence on children . Italian Journal of Pediatrics . 2019;45(1):76. doi:10.1186/s13052-019-0669-z

By Sanjana Gupta Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

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130 School Violence Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

School violence is a growing concern in today's society, with incidents of bullying, fighting, and even school shootings becoming more prevalent. It is important for students, teachers, and parents to address this issue and work towards creating a safe and supportive learning environment for all. One way to raise awareness about school violence is through writing essays on the topic. To help inspire students, here are 130 school violence essay topic ideas and examples.

• The impact of school violence on students' mental health
• How social media contributes to school violence
• Strategies for preventing bullying in schools
• The role of teachers in addressing school violence
• The correlation between school violence and gun control laws
• The effects of school violence on academic performance
• How school violence can be linked to childhood trauma
• The importance of creating a positive school climate to prevent violence
• The role of parents in preventing school violence
• The impact of school violence on the community
• The connection between school violence and mental illness
• The role of school counselors in addressing school violence
• The impact of cyberbullying on school violence
• The relationship between school violence and poverty
• The role of law enforcement in preventing school violence
• The effects of school violence on victims
• The impact of school violence on teachers' job satisfaction
• The role of peer pressure in school violence
• The connection between school violence and substance abuse
• The importance of bystander intervention in preventing school violence
• The effects of school violence on the school's reputation
• The role of school administrators in addressing school violence
• The impact of school violence on students' sense of safety
• The connection between school violence and media influence
• The effects of school violence on students' self-esteem
• The role of student-led initiatives in preventing school violence
• The impact of school violence on students' relationships with peers
• The correlation between school violence and school discipline policies
• The effects of school violence on students' academic engagement
• The role of school psychologists in addressing school violence
• The connection between school violence and social exclusion
• The importance of trauma-informed care in addressing school violence
• The effects of school violence on students' sense of belonging
• The impact of school violence on students' physical health
• The correlation between school violence and academic achievement
• The role of community organizations in preventing school violence
• The effects of school violence on students' emotional well-being
• The connection between school violence and cultural factors
• The importance of restorative justice practices in addressing school violence
• The impact of school violence on students' future success
• The role of peer mentoring programs in preventing school violence
• The effects of school violence on students' social skills
• The connection between school violence and family dynamics
• The importance of mental health education in addressing school violence
• The impact of school violence on students' sense of trust
• The correlation between school violence and gender stereotypes
• The effects of school violence on students' attitudes towards authority
• The role of community partnerships in preventing school violence
• The connection between school violence and racial discrimination
• The importance of conflict resolution skills in addressing school violence
• The impact of school violence on students' sense of justice
• The role of student government in preventing school violence
• The effects of school violence on students' sense of empathy
• The connection between school violence and mental health stigma
• The importance of trauma-sensitive schools in addressing school violence
• The impact of school violence on students' sense of security
• The correlation between school violence and social media use
• The effects of school violence on students' academic motivation
• The role of school resource officers in preventing school violence
• The connection between school violence and peer relationships
• The importance of social-emotional learning in addressing school violence
• The impact of school violence on students' sense of hope
• The role of school clubs in preventing school violence
• The effects of school violence on students' sense of identity
• The connection between school violence and school culture
• The importance of trauma recovery services in addressing school violence
• The impact of school violence on students' sense of community
• The correlation between school violence and mental health services
• The role of school assemblies in preventing school violence
• The connection between school violence and school policies
• The importance of peer support groups in addressing school violence
• The impact of school violence on students' sense of purpose
• The correlation between school violence and neighborhood safety
• The effects of school violence on students' sense of empowerment
• The connection between school violence and school climate
• The importance of community engagement in addressing school violence
• The impact of school violence on students' sense of inclusion
• The correlation between school violence and school funding
• The effects of school violence on students' sense of justice
• The connection between school violence and school leadership
• The importance of peer mediation programs in addressing school violence
• The impact of school violence on students' sense of empathy
• The correlation between school violence and school security measures
• The effects of school violence on students' sense of responsibility
• The importance of community partnerships in addressing school violence

In conclusion, school violence is a serious issue that requires attention and action from all members of the community. By writing essays on this topic, students can raise awareness, spark important discussions, and contribute to the collective effort to create safe and supportive learning environments for all. With these 130 school violence essay topic ideas and examples, students have a wide range of options to choose from and explore this important issue in depth.

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Youth Violence — School violence, causes and solution

How to Prevent School Violence: Analysis of Causes and Solutions

• Categories: Bullying Youth Violence

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Published: Mar 1, 2019

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Primary causes of school violence, potential solutions, works cited:.

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• Planck Collaboration, Ade, P. A. R., Aghanim, N., Armitage-Caplan, C., Arnaud, M., Ashdown, M., ... & Zonca, A. (2015). Planck 2015 results—XIII. Cosmological parameters. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 594, A13.
• Rees, M. J. (2003). Our Cosmic Habitat. Princeton University Press.
• Riess, A. G., Filippenko, A. V., Challis, P., Clocchiatti, A., Diercks, A., Garnavich, P. M., ... & Tonry, J. (1998). Observational evidence from supernovae for an accelerating universe and a cosmological constant. The Astronomical Journal, 116(3), 1009-1038.
• Silk, J. (2001). The Big Bang. W. H. Freeman.
• Weinberg, S. (1972). Gravitation and cosmology: principles and applications of the general theory of relativity. Wiley.

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School Violence - Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

School violence encompasses physical violence, bullying, and any other form of aggressive behavior in educational settings. Essays on school violence could explore the psychological, social, and systemic factors contributing to violent behaviors, prevention and intervention strategies, and the impacts on academic and social outcomes for students. Moreover, discussions might delve into policy implications, community involvement, and global comparisons of school violence prevention programs. We’ve gathered an extensive assortment of free essay samples on the topic of School Violence you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Growing Problem of School Violence

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Be Aware of School Violence

Violence in school is a big problem, there should be no reason our kids should be scared to come to school; according to the CDC, kids grades K-12th are constantly at risk of potential violent outbreaks from gang memberships, hazing, peer pressure, and drug usage. Cyber-bullying  has been a popular cause with the rise of technology and social platforms in the past few years; usually the culprit to the war between social acceptance. Mostly teens resort to being included in […]

Gerard Jones’ Biased Evaluation of Violence in Media

In the essay "Violent Media Is Good for Kids", Gerard Jones is arguing that violent media is more beneficial than harmful to children. In his essay, Jones explains how it is important for children to have a medium in which they can express their feelings in, instead of repressing them deep within themselves. Jones maintains that children need an outlet to release feelings that they tend to suffocate within themselves, because society has made rage and other feelings such as; […]

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Dealing with School-Based Weapon Violence

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Problem of Violence in Schools

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Tragedy and the Meaning of School Shootings

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Effects of School Shootings

School shootings has only recently become a national concern. Just in the past few years' school shootings have become almost ""normal"" and many people will agree with that statement. There are people who believe that those who commit the school shootings are actually victims themselves, and have been bullied. Others believe there is no correlation between the students who do the school shootings because they believe they grew up in a supportive family, with no significant family issues. Within this […]

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Gun Violence and the Second Amendment

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Issues of Violence in Schools

With an increased rate in juvenile delinquency, I chose to discuss the violence in schools; underlining the root of the issue, what policies are currently in place, and what steps are needed to create a more effective policy to resolve the issue. Some of the risk factors of school and youth violence come from prior history of violence, drug, alcohol and tobacco use, association with delinquent peers, poor family function, poor grades in school and poverty in the community.  "Data […]

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Gang Violence in Schools

Violence in schools, particularly gang violence, has increased in the past XX years (citation). Gang membership was once considered an issue only facing urban inner-city schools, however, gangs are now spread throughout suburban neighborhoods (Sharkey, 2011). Research has found that gang membership among students can significantly impact educational, social and emotional attainment (citation). In schools, minority children are the primary perpetrators of violence (Soriano & Soriano, 1994), including gang violence; however, this does not indicate that a student's ethnic and […]

Rise of School Shootings

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Violence in Schools

Violence in schools is a pressing issue with profound implications for students, educators, and communities. This article examines the prevalence, causes, consequences, prevention, and intervention strategies related to school violence. Delving into individual, family, and community factors contributing to violent behavior, it underscores the importance of fostering positive school environments and promoting mental health services. The article also discusses the role of policy and legislation in mitigating violence while emphasizing the significance of ongoing research to inform effective strategies. With a focus on empirical evidence and best practices, this article underscores the urgency of addressing and understanding school violence to create safe and nurturing educational settings for all.

Introduction

Violence in schools is a complex and multifaceted issue that demands our attention and understanding. This introduction serves as a foundation for the comprehensive examination of this topic. Violence in schools refers to any physical, verbal, or psychological aggression, as well as harmful behaviors that threaten the safety, well-being, and psychological integrity of students, educators, and staff within educational institutions. In recent years, this issue has gained prominence in the public consciousness due to alarming incidents of school shootings, bullying, and other forms of aggression within educational settings. This article aims to explore the various dimensions of violence in schools, its root causes, and the implications for the educational community and society as a whole. By shedding light on this subject, we can better appreciate the pressing importance of studying and addressing violence in schools. Through an examination of statistics, research findings, and evidence-based strategies, this article provides a comprehensive overview of the issue, emphasizing the urgency of fostering safe and nurturing school environments. In the sections that follow, we will delve into the prevalence, causes, consequences, prevention, and intervention strategies related to violence in schools, paving the way for a more informed and effective response to this critical societal concern.

Prevalence of School Violence

School violence is a disconcerting reality that encompasses a range of behaviors, and this section aims to shed light on its prevalence, forms, and the demographic groups most affected. Statistics and trends paint a sobering picture, underscoring the significance of this issue. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a concerning pattern emerges. In the United States, for instance, approximately 20% of students report being bullied during the school year. This figure is, however, just the tip of the iceberg, as numerous incidents go unreported. Notably, violence in schools takes various forms, including physical altercations, verbal abuse, and the more contemporary challenge of cyberbullying. Physical violence may manifest as fights, assaults, or even more severe incidents such as school shootings, with tragic consequences. Verbal violence encompasses threats, insults, and harassment, contributing to a hostile learning environment. The advent of the digital age has introduced a new dimension, with cyberbullying involving the use of electronic devices and social media platforms to perpetrate harm. It’s crucial to recognize that school violence affects individuals across diverse age groups and demographics. While it can occur at any educational level, it’s most prevalent in middle and high schools. Certain demographic groups, such as LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, and those from marginalized backgrounds, often experience disproportionately higher rates of violence. This data underscores the pressing need to address the prevalence and multifaceted nature of school violence comprehensively. In the following sections, we will delve deeper into the causes, consequences, and strategies to tackle this pervasive issue.

Causes of School Violence

Understanding the root causes of school violence is essential for crafting effective prevention and intervention strategies. This section delves into the intricate web of individual, family, and school-based factors that contribute to violence within educational institutions.

Violent behavior in students is often the result of a complex interplay of individual factors. Psychological factors play a crucial role, with traits such as impulsivity, a lack of empathy, and a propensity for aggressive behavior increasing the likelihood of violence. Moreover, the presence of mental health issues can exacerbate the situation. Students grappling with conditions like depression, anxiety, or conduct disorders may resort to violence as a coping mechanism or due to a diminished ability to regulate their emotions. Personal trauma, whether it stems from abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence, can also be a catalyst for violent behavior. Socioeconomic status plays a pivotal role, with students from disadvantaged backgrounds facing unique stressors and challenges that may increase their vulnerability to violence.

Family dynamics and community environments have a significant impact on school violence. Dysfunctional families, marked by domestic violence, substance abuse, or inadequate supervision, can contribute to the development of violent tendencies in students. Exposure to violence in the community, whether through neighborhood crime or witnessing interpersonal violence, can further exacerbate these tendencies. Disrupted family structures and a lack of supportive family relationships can leave students without the necessary emotional and social support systems, increasing their risk of engaging in violent behaviors.

The school environment itself plays a pivotal role in shaping the likelihood of violence. School culture, climate, and policies directly influence students’ behavior and interactions. A positive school culture that emphasizes respect, empathy, and conflict resolution can deter violence, while a toxic culture characterized by aggression and intolerance can foster it. School climate, which encompasses students’ perceptions of safety and their sense of belonging, also affects their likelihood of engaging in or being victims of violence. Policies and disciplinary practices, including zero-tolerance policies, can either help prevent or inadvertently encourage violence. Peer pressure, bullying, and the quality of student relationships within the school community further impact the likelihood of violence. Understanding these complex dynamics is essential for crafting strategies that promote safer, more nurturing educational environments.

In the subsequent sections, we will delve into the consequences of school violence and explore strategies for its prevention and intervention, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach that addresses the multifaceted causes of this critical issue.

Consequences of School Violence

School violence has far-reaching and enduring consequences that affect not only the individuals involved but also the broader educational community. This section outlines the multifaceted repercussions, spanning short-term and long-term impacts, and delves into the academic, psychological, and social dimensions of these consequences.

School violence engenders a range of short-term consequences that are immediately evident in the aftermath of an incident. Students who are victims of violence may experience physical injuries, pain, and immediate emotional distress. The fear and anxiety associated with school violence can disrupt the learning environment, leading to classroom disruptions and emotional trauma for both students and teachers. Moreover, it can undermine the sense of safety and security within the school community.

Long-term consequences of school violence, however, are more insidious and can have lasting effects on individuals, schools, and communities. Academic consequences often manifest as decreased attendance, lower grades, and diminished educational achievement. Students who are exposed to violence may struggle with concentrating on their studies, leading to educational setbacks that can persist into adulthood. The psychological impact can be severe, with students and teachers experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health issues. This trauma can persist long after the incident, affecting not only the well-being of individuals but also their academic and social functioning.

On a social level, school violence can fracture the sense of community within an educational institution. It may foster a climate of fear and mistrust, eroding the relationships between students and educators. In cases of bullying and other forms of violence, bystanders may suffer from feelings of guilt, powerlessness, or fear. The wider community can also be negatively affected, as incidents of school violence may contribute to a negative reputation for the school, deterring enrollment and impacting property values in the surrounding area.

Understanding the multifaceted consequences of school violence is essential for crafting effective strategies to prevent and address these issues. In the following sections, we will explore various prevention and intervention approaches designed to mitigate the short-term and long-term impacts of school violence on students, teachers, and the community, ultimately striving for safer and more nurturing educational environments.

Prevention and Intervention

Addressing school violence requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses prevention and intervention strategies. This section outlines the key methods, including school-based strategies, mental health services, and policy and legislation, aimed at mitigating and responding to violence within educational settings.

Preventing school violence begins within the school itself. Evidence-based programs and practices have demonstrated success in reducing the incidence of violence. These strategies often focus on fostering a positive school climate, emphasizing respect, empathy, and communication. Implementing anti-bullying initiatives is a crucial component of this approach. Schools can develop and enforce clear anti-bullying policies, educate students and staff about the consequences of bullying, and establish mechanisms for reporting and addressing incidents. Restorative justice programs, which emphasize conflict resolution and accountability, can also be integral to creating a more harmonious school environment.

Mental health services play a pivotal role in preventing and addressing school violence. Identifying and supporting at-risk students is essential for early intervention. Schools can establish a system for recognizing signs of distress and providing counseling or therapy to students who exhibit violent tendencies or who have experienced trauma. Integration of mental health professionals into schools ensures that students have easy access to the support they may need. Psychologists, counselors, and social workers can collaborate with educators to create a safe and nurturing environment and offer crisis intervention when required.

Legal and policy measures have a significant impact on preventing and addressing school violence. Various policies have been enacted to promote safety, including zero-tolerance policies, which mandate strict consequences for certain behaviors. However, the effectiveness of zero-tolerance policies has been questioned, as they may inadvertently contribute to a “school-to-prison pipeline” by disproportionately affecting marginalized students. Restorative justice policies have emerged as an alternative, emphasizing conflict resolution and rehabilitation over punitive measures. Legislation has also focused on firearms regulations to reduce the risk of school shootings. Understanding and assessing the impact of existing policies and legislation is crucial to shaping an effective response to school violence.

By combining school-based strategies, mental health services, and thoughtful policy and legislation, educational institutions can create an environment that not only prevents violence but also provides the necessary support and intervention when incidents occur. In the following sections, we will explore the research and assessment methods used to study school violence and inform these prevention and intervention strategies, ultimately striving for safer and more nurturing educational environments.

Research and Assessment

Research and assessment are fundamental components of our collective efforts to understand, prevent, and address school violence. This section delves into the research methods used to study school violence and assess its prevalence and underlying causes. It also emphasizes the crucial role of ongoing research in this field.

Exploring the dynamics of school violence necessitates a variety of research methods that can provide comprehensive insights. Epidemiological studies are often employed to examine the prevalence and incidence of violence within educational settings. These studies involve large-scale surveys and data collection to identify patterns, trends, and risk factors associated with school violence. Qualitative research methods, such as interviews and focus groups, allow researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and perspectives of students, educators, and community members affected by school violence.

The importance of ongoing research in the field of school violence cannot be overstated. Research continually updates our knowledge, allowing us to adapt our strategies and interventions to the evolving landscape of educational environments. It helps us stay informed about emerging forms of violence, changing risk factors, and the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programs. Ongoing research also ensures that our approaches remain evidence-based, reflecting the latest findings and best practices. Furthermore, research contributes to the refinement of policies and legislation aimed at addressing school violence, aligning them with the most current knowledge and insights.

In conclusion, research and assessment are vital tools for understanding the complex dynamics of school violence. They provide the foundation for the development of evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies. Moreover, ongoing research ensures that our responses to this critical issue remain relevant and effective. In the subsequent section, we will summarize the key points of this article and suggest potential future directions for research and intervention in the realm of school violence.

This comprehensive exploration of the topic of violence in schools has shed light on its many dimensions, from prevalence and causes to consequences, prevention, intervention, and the critical role of research. In this conclusion, we summarize the key points discussed in this article, reiterate the significance of addressing violence in schools, and suggest potential future directions for research and intervention.

Throughout this article, we have recognized that violence in schools encompasses physical, verbal, and psychological aggression, posing a serious threat to students, educators, and communities. Prevalence data highlights that a significant percentage of students are affected by school violence, and it takes various forms, including bullying and cyberbullying. We have explored the diverse factors that contribute to school violence, including individual, family, and community dynamics, as well as the role of the school environment itself. The consequences of school violence are profound, impacting individuals academically, psychologically, and socially in both the short-term and long-term.

To combat school violence, a multi-pronged approach is necessary. School-based strategies emphasize creating a positive school climate, implementing anti-bullying initiatives, and fostering conflict resolution. Mental health services play a pivotal role in early identification and support for at-risk students. Policy and legislation must strike a balance between maintaining safety and avoiding unintended consequences.

The importance of ongoing research in understanding, preventing, and addressing school violence cannot be overstated. Research methods like epidemiological studies and qualitative research help us assess the prevalence and causes of violence, enabling the development of evidence-based strategies. Moreover, research ensures that our approaches remain current and relevant, adapting to the changing landscape of education and the evolving nature of school violence.

In conclusion, addressing violence in schools is not only a moral imperative but also a practical necessity for creating safe, nurturing, and productive learning environments. It demands the collective efforts of educators, policymakers, mental health professionals, and researchers. Future research should focus on the effectiveness of prevention and intervention strategies, as well as understanding emerging forms of violence. Collaboration and the exchange of best practices will be instrumental in shaping a future where schools can truly be places of safety, growth, and learning for all students.

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Cause & Effect Essay: School Violence

School violence is a major problem around the world. The effects of school violence can lead to division and severe mental and physical trauma for both perpetrators and victims alike. The main cause of school violence is a combination of weak community relations and a lack of a firm hand within both schools and communities. To effectively deal with the issue, both of these need addressing.

The beginnings of school violence often stem from differences between teenagers. Children are natural herd creatures and will gravitate towards people who are similar in looks, mentality, and those who have the same interests. Other groups are seen as enemies, and this is where conflict begins.

A lack of education is one of the main causes of school violence. If young people aren’t taught from an early age about the consequences and wrongs of violence there’s a high chance they’ll indulge in it later. Education must occur in the home, alongside parents, and in the classroom.

Furthermore, when violence does happen, a lack of will to punish the perpetrators encourages them to participate in it again later. Teachers and law enforcement officers must stamp down on violence. It’s simple mentality. A punishment says mentally and physically violence is wrong. Allowing them to get away with it says to them they haven’t done anything wrong. This is a trend we have seen replicated in UK prisons and the high reoffending rates.

Weak community relations start school violence. Inter-racial schools where students come from different backgrounds sow the seeds of conflict. Many students haven’t come into contact with people from these backgrounds before, and this creates suspicion and wariness. It’s highly unlikely violence will occur if they have been in contact with people from these backgrounds before.

Divisive communities are more likely to suffer from violence than harmonious ones. It’s why schools in East London and international cities like Los Angeles have a reputation for violence in schools and between schools. Too often, schools act on violence within schools, but they fail to work with other schools and community representatives to tackle the problem between academic facilities.

Parental guidance in the home has a large effect on school violence. If a student’s parents are violent or prejudiced, they are likely to develop the same aggressive characteristics. Even if there’s only one person like this in a school, it can still lead to violence in the classroom.

Overall, it’s not so much the risk factors of violence which become the problem. It’s the lack of will to act on it when it does happen. It’s impossible to stamp out all types of violence. Children make mistakes and it will happen. To stop it happening again, schools and community officers must act.

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