School violence starts early NU researchers say more after-school activities must be developed By Meghan Erica Irons t least six out of 10 elementary school principals in major Massachusetts school districts suspended or expelled students for carrying weapons to school or getting into some sort of violent act, according to a new study by Northeastern researchers released this week. We expect to see violence at the high schools, but we don't expect to see it at the elementary school level. Although violent incidents at the grade school level are on the rise, Levin said elementary school principals get low marks for not developing enough after-school activities to help curb violence in their schools.
Most principals regard students as victims outside of the school day.
In the study, Levin and Johnson surveyed 64 school principals in five of the largest cities in Massachusetts - Boston, Lowell, New Bedford, Springfield and Worcester. They found that 64 percent of the elementary school principals suspended or expelled violent students last year, while 96 percent of the principals at middle schools and high schools did. In the eight schools surveyed, more than 26 students were dismissed for carrying a weapon or being violent during the last year. Still, only 14 percent of the elementary schools polled provided after-school activities, as opposed to 90 percent of the high schools and 96 percent of the middle schools. Levin said educators must be proactive in the fight to curtail violence by rethinking the role after-school activities must play in helping students manage and cope with violence.