Violence is an everyday occurrence wherever we go. The education system is no different. Examples of school violence being physical altercations, the use of weapons or electronic aggression. Electronic aggression being a form of cyber bullying as it uses similar tactics such as online harassment, negative e-mails or using social media websites. The Centers of Disease Control defines bullying as “unwanted aggressive behaviors by another youth or groups of youths who take part or observe an imbalance of power that is likely to repeat”. Some instances of where bullying may occur can be at the school grounds, on the way to or from school and during scholarly functions. The typical school victim can be approximately 10 to 24 years of age, some may experience bullying in early childhood. In 2013, students in 9-12th grade had experienced at least one form of bullying. 19.6% reported bullying on school property, 8.1% reported as an physical altercation at school while 14.8% of this bullying was done electronically. All of this within a twelve month period.
School violence can be prevented. How you may ask? By anyone: teachers, administrators, parents, even other students. The school environment and the atmosphere it brings is a key factor in the chance of violence to occur. A main factor in prevention is public health. What public health does it focuses on preventing violence before is begins. To name some prevention methods there is promoting cooperative learning techniques, classroom management practices and creating an open communication & decision making process for students. Not only is the teacher's presence important but the parental guardians as well. Parents play a crucial role in developing their children, this applying to violence prevention as it help in the long-term for violent behavior to erupt.
The policy that I propose can prevent bullying at schools while decreasing the negativity bullying brings and promote a more positive school environment. My proposal is making a modern policy which all parties involved in the altercation can communicate with one another to come to an agreement. After settling the disagreement, the school and the students involved can find an alternative method of discipline besides detention or school suspension such as community volunteer work. I do realize this will not work in every situation. My primary idea being if the bullying continues for there to be disciplinary action taken. The first time have one day of school detention, the second being week long detention and finally if the bullying persist, I suggest for outside school suspension. Instead of simply suspending one or all students as punishment, I say it should be form of community volunteer work. The volunteer work I’m proposing is either any form of volunteer assistance done on school property or with volunteer organizations. Volunteer for school events, picking up litter in the school’s environment or assisting at localized events. For how long the student(s) have to volunteer can be compliant within the school's policies and procedures. This hopefully can show adolescents the good in helping others as they can learn from their mistakes to become better people.
Issue Briefs (local, state, national, global)