The article is about the increasing number of acts of violence in the American school. While the main focus has been shifted to other forms of violence such as terrorism at the workplace, the issue of the violence in public schools is a matter that needs to be addressed. Many learners undergo some form of school victimization which impacts on them negatively. The effects of such violence include loss of self- esteem, high levels of isolation and loneliness among the affected, panic attacks and anxiety as well as depression and suicidal thoughts. Unless proactive measures are taken to deal with the situation, the risks of violence in schools could get to a dangerous point.
The author of the article suggests various mechanisms that can be used by schools to prevent school violence. The first recommendation that the author gives is the setting up of clear school policies by the authority. All schools should develop clear policies with strong, consistent and written law against harassment, intimidation, and bullying (Miller, 2007). Such policies should be known to all the students and the school workers. Appropriate security program must be put in place to prevent the incidences of violence from taking place. There should also be a confidential and user-friendly system for reporting any signs of possible emerging violence. The policy should also include open communication channels as well as training on the importance of negotiation and conflict resolution strategies.
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Another way in which the author recommends for preventing school violence is by having safe discipline where any student who is found on the wrong gets a punishment that seems fair. This can be done by developing individualized disciplinary mechanisms that strikes a balance a too heavy-handed approach that could discourage reporting. A third suggestion that the author of the article recommends for violence prevention in school has a safe suspension or expulsion mechanisms. This can be applied if other disciplinary mechanisms prove to be inefficient. A clear and firm policy on expulsion can be used without making the school authority appear inhumane. The author is optimistic that if these recommendations are applied appropriately, the incidences of school violence will be prevented and the frequency will significantly reduce.
This article teaches the importance of having a violence-free learning environment. It shows that when a school has incidences of violence, the affected students will have several negative impacts which could impact negatively on their academic performance. The government must, therefore, work together with school authorities to bring such incidences to an end if a peaceful and violent-free learning environment is to be achieved. The article is important as it gives recommendations to the school authorities on various mechanisms that they can employ to control the incidences of violence in schools.
The article further provides various ways of responding to school violence. It states on how to identify the impending signs of violence and the means that the school can use to defuse such a dangerous situation. It goes ahead to give an insight into how schools can recover from violence after it has occurred, which include guidance and counseling of the affected as well as providing support among other ways.
The information contained in this article about prevention of school violence and various ways of recovering from school violence is useful in today’s learning institutions. Schools should use the information from this article to see if they can apply it to a safe learning environment that will give students peace of mind. A safe learning environment, free from violence and any other form of victimization is important in developing a stable mental state of learners and improving their academic performance. Studies have shown that students who study in a peaceful environment free from violence and victimization perform better in their studies than those exposed to violence.
Reference
Miller, L. (2007). School violence: Effective response protocols for maximum safety and minimum liability. International journal of emergency mental health, 9(2), 105.
