NATIONAL SCENE
An Education In Violence
It was a call to another girl that pro
mpted Sheryl, teenager, to go after her
boyfriend with a single-edged razor. It
was a matter of respect. But for the large
numbers of students who carry weapons
to school each day, it is a matter of fear,
rage and survival.
Tales of violence are echoed in school
systems throughout America. More and
more students see violence as a quick and
easy solution to most of their problems.
It is sometimes an instantaneous response
without a full understanding of the
devastating consequences.
Gun-Toting Teens
About one in 20 of this country’s high-
schoolers carries a gun. Among African
American males, firearms are the leading
cause of death.
Teachers are assaulted and students
are gunned down in front of their
classmates almost daily. At one time, the
need for school security meant keeping
intruders out. Today, school police and
security guards are called upon to address
the violence within school walls.
100,000 Guns
According to the National Education
Association, an estimated 100,000
students carry guns to class. Millions of
incidents of street crime (assault, rape,
robbery and theft) take place inside
schools or on school property yearly.
Nearly 300,000 high school students
are physically attacked each month. One
teacher in 20 is assaulted annually.
The growing public awareness of
school violence has school systems
scrambling for ways to keep guns and
knives off school property.
Reluctance to Talk
That very real concern is complicated
by an educational system known for be
ing reluctant to air its dirty laundry.
“The job of the principal is to keep
things quiet,” said Adele Terrell, pro
gram director of the Baltimore-based Na
tional Institute Against Prejudice and
Violence.
“There is a strong reluctance to call
the police. Usually there has to be blood
drawn. Principals get evaluated on
whether they keep things quiet as oppos
ed to intervention before things get out
of hand. Teachers are expected to keep
classes quiet and principals are expected
to keep schools quiet.”
Ironically, it is the national headlines
and media attention that has brought the
issue of school violence to the forefront.
But what is causing the outbreak in
violence?
Many point to the breakdown of the
family, daily exposure to violence on
television and drugs in the community.
Schools are considered a mirror of socie
ty — one that is plagued with gunpack
ing youth, economically depressed adults
and growing racism.
Many Culprits.
Blame it on the availability of guns,
violent movies, video games, and
glorified police reality shows. They may
all be factors in helping students to learn
to devalue life.
Others point to a generation of youth
who receive material items, but far less
time with their parents. The argument
also is raised that students who do not
value themselves do not value others.
Whatever your beliefs, the truth is that
our youth are suffering.
Too often the fingers are pointed at
the inner city, but the issues of school
violence extend to America’s so-called
heartland. Rural and suburban areas are
also feeling the impact.
The problem is deeply rooted, even
among the children of some of our best
educated, economically better off
families.
For example, Prince George’s Coun
ty, Md, is noted as having the most af
fluent and most educated African-
Americans in the nation. Yet, school
violence is a daily occurrence in the 172
public schools in that county. African
Americans constitute 67.6 percent of the
school population, with 23.5 percent
white.
But despite the affluence, students still
turn to violence, weapons and drugs.
Crime in most of the 17 categories
reported by the school system was on the
rise during the 1991-1992 school year.
The school system recorded 45 sex of
fenses and 528 assaults.
More students are coming to school
armed. There were 246 cases in which
weapons were brought to school, com
pared to 127 the previous year. Crime
rates went up at the elementary and high
school levels. Dangerous Attitudes.
Students go to school believing that
they should be armed and are more than
prepared to use deadly weapons. For far
too many, it has become the socially ac
cepted thing to do.
Most schools keep annual records of
school activities, but national statistics
are much harder to find. It is interesting
to note that data is collected by the
Center for Disease Control, since
homicide is ranked as the No. 1 health
risk for African-American males.
Teacher’s Answer: Discipline.
In order to save lives, many teachers
say that students who commit violent
acts should be dealt with more severely.
Some student offenders go through the
juvenile-court system and are simply
given probation or they are made to par
ticipate in community service. Others,
usually African-American males, are
charged as adults for more serious in
cidents and find themselves behind bars.
What’s going wrong?
Guns, knives and any weapons that
can be concealed are seen by far too
many youths as the great equalizers, if
they are being bothered or want to keep
their Raiders’ jackets, students carry
weapons for protection. Other students
see guns as providing power to take what
they want or to get the respect they feel
they will not otherwise receive. Girls are
not exempt from the problem. In fact,
schools throughout the country are
reporting increases in violence among
female students. Teachers as Victims.
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