School Violence

School violence is a very imperative issue of concern as it relates to the educating and the saving of lives of students. Due to the writer being employed at an alternative school and educates students that are sometimes labeled as deviants, the writer felt duty-bound to discuss this topic that is of heart felt agitation. “School violence" can be defined as any act of intimidation, threats, harassment, robbery, vandalism, physical assault such as fights, with or without a weapon (including rape, or other sexual battery), or murder that happens on school grounds or buses going to and from school” (Capozzoli and McVey 11).

According to Reiss & Roth, 1997, violence jeopardizes the intent of the school's mission to be free of aggression against persons or property by way of drugs, weapons, disruptions, bullying and disorderly conduct.
Many of the students who are involved in school violence have not been properly taught how to rationalize or resolve their disagreements or circumstances. As a result of not being able to do what is considered to be the best strategy for resolving differences, they are more likely to seek out a gun or knife, as a means to solving their issues. This sadistic venting of anger; can ultimately; destroy a school and its mission by taking school violence to an entirely new height.

Capazzoli, Thomas K. and R. Steve McVey. Kids Killing Kids: Managing Violence and Gangs in Schools. Boca Raton: St. Lucie Press, 1999.
Reiss, Albert J and Roth, A. Jeffery (1997). Understanding and preventing violence. (pp. 85-115). Washington, DC: National Academy Press.