Student assaults are broken down by grade level, with fewer assaults happening in high school than middle and elementary schools. There were 10 student assaults among high schoolers last year, but 49 each for elementary and middle school students. Tittle said more time is spent diffusing situations at the high school level because of the potential for dangerous outcomes. But students have learned consequences follow actions and many have gained control of their feelings. Schools have different ways of administering anger management curriculums.
Elementary students receive instruction in the classroom after teachers have been trained.
Tittle said one key to decreasing violence is teaching empathy as part of anger management. Violence stemming from anger can be avoided by examining options and looking for the answer in your heart, she said. There can never be anything dark that hides in your heart. The program seems to be working for Tascosa, touting a reduction in student fighting since implementation in 1994. No curriculum or program will stop people from being angry, but that isn't the goal, Tittle said.