As we have increasingly come to know, violence begets violence. As we consider how to address violence in our schools, we need to focus more broadly on all the ways our society tolerates and teaches others to tolerate violence. We need to teach our children that violence whatever its form will no longer be tolerated.
Children first learn violent behaviors by witnessing domestic violence.
Nearly one million incidents of domestic violence are reported in this country each year. No one knows how many incidents go unreported, but experts believe there may be as many as four million annually. While most domestic violence is spousal abuse, the effects of domestic violence are felt profoundly by all members of the family. Schools have many roles to play in preventing violence. First, like social workers, teachers are trained to be alert to signs of abuse.