School violence

http://www.ericdigests.org/2004-3/violence.html

Violence in schools is something that isn't discussed much until a tragedy happens. Inner city schools are more prone to have acts of violence happen there than suburban and rural schools. The urban school administrators should take the time and assess how this affects the test scores of children. There should also be more programs instated that address school violence. Students need to be taught how to work out their differences instead of using violence to solve problems.

* Secondary schools are more likely to report at least one incident of violence than elementary and middle schools, with 92 percent of secondary schools, 87 percent of middle schools, and 61 percent of elementary schools reporting a violent incident. For serious violence, secondary and middle schools (29 percent) report the same incidence of serious violence, while 14 percent of elementary schools report at least one serious incident.

* Similarly, compared to city schools, those on the urban fringe are less likely to report a violent incident, while there are no differences in reports of violent incidents between city schools and those located in towns or rural areas.

After controlling for other characteristics, the only school management practice that remains associated with reports of violence is the number of classroom changes students make during a typical school day; as the number increases, the probability of experiencing a violent incident also increases.

At my school there are some fights but mostly from things that happen outside of school. There are several gangs in the area. However the security does a good job at curbing the violence on school grounds. When things to happen, I know that my assistant principal reports the incidents to area office and to the police. I don't believe that he is fudging data.

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=4032

"In reality, disclosures of school violence vary wildly from one district to another. Some schools report every punch thrown on the playground. Others did not include assaults that police classified as felonies," Denver Post staff writer Doug Oplinger reported.

After comparing police reports with those filed by schools, Oplinger found serious discrepancies. Among the incidents that took place at metro-area schools reporting no violence or fights of any kind last year were a boy who needed staples to close head wounds; a girl who was hospitalized with bruised kidneys; a sexual assault; a knifing; and attacks with a flagpole and a baseball bat.

Between March and April, the Chicago Tribune reported on the failure of law enforcement officials in Illinois to consistently notify school districts when convicted juvenile sex offenders enroll in their schools. Many failed to notify principals in the mistaken belief they were not permitted to alert them, when in fact they were required to do so.