When violence enters a school, the first victim is learning. From rural schoolhouses to city classrooms, alarming incidents point to an epidemic without geographic boundaries.
School violence involves more than guns, knives, and gangs.
It also manifests as insults, intimidation, and intolerance. Through the dramatic rise in youth fatalities and overt physical aggression, and through subtler psychological threats, violence damages the minds and hearts of American students and educators. Education policymakers can begin by considering school-based approaches to reduce violence. There are many promising avenues for change, including innovative teaching and learning processes, the content of curriculums, and new roles for students, teachers, administrators, and families. Through well-informed efforts, schools can prevent violence and become communities of cooperation, safety, and achievement.