Teacher Perceptions of School Violence

Teacher Perceptions of School Violence: A Mixed Bag

Whether its guns in school or the selling of drugs, there’s no denying it -- teachers are on the frontlines of our waxing and waning crime rates. The 1999 Columbine High School shooting crystallized the growing unease in schools the way few instances have. Teachers' perceptions of school violence have been wary ever since.

There are many examples of the deadly results of school violence. Chicago, Illinois, alone had more than 34 murders during the 2006-2007 school year. All of the victims were teenagers. A sticky, corrosive web of high unemployment, record numbers of incarceration and low levels of education have teachers very worried indeed.

What Can Teachers Do?

Although some teachers don’t relish the idea of being on the frontlines of the war on school violence, they know that without them, things can and would be much worse than they already are.

Here are some safety tips teachers can take to ensure their schools remain a safe haven:

• Conversations with students must be developmentally appropriate: Teachers, especially veteran educators, are familiar with this phrase. Not being able to understand a conversation or questions posed, can be very frustrating for a young person. From this standpoint, it’s easy to see how this kind of frustration has the potential to lead to conflict.

• Older children may have more information about an event: What this means is that because teens have greater access to the Internet and other forms of information, independent from their parents, it’s important not to marginalize their points of views.

• Communicate with parents: Communicating with parents and keeping them abreast of issues and concerns that school personnel have had with students is very important. Information should be fluid amongst parents, students and teachers alike.

• Provide parents with guidelines for talking with children about violence: Be aware that parents may find it difficult to communicate with their children. Help these parents by giving them some guidelines or topics to discuss. The more children are aware of some of the markers of violence, the more likely they’ll be to speak up when they see it.

• Reinforce normal routines and activities: Children tend to feel safe and secure when they know what their day will look like. Help them feel even more safe by posting a schedule when the day does get disrupted.

• Consider cultures, traditions, religions and family/community values of students: In the event that an incident does occur, be mindful of the rich diversity that permeates your classroom. Being culturally sensitive can go a long way in keeping things calm and orderly.

Characteristics of a Safe School

Even as teacher perceptions of school violence fluctuate throughout the school year, whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are clues that point to a safe school. They are:

• The focus is squarely on academic achievement.
• Involve the families in meaningful ways.
• Have developed links to the surrounding community.
• Emphasize positive relationships among students and staff.
• Discusses safety issues openly.
• Treat students with equal respect.
• Create ways that students can feel safe sharing their concerns.
• Have a system in place for referring children who are suspected of being abused or neglected.
• Promote good citizenship and character.

A Final Word

No one, especially after watching the evening news, can blame teachers for their concerns about school violence it affects us all.

No matter what the teacher perceptions of school violence, educators have been working non-stop to help stem the flow. Hopefully, with the support of parents, school will once again be viewed as a safe place of learning.