Violence in Elementary School. What can we do?

Everyone has seen news reports of violence in high schools and middle schools. Students fight, they bring knives and guns to school they are harming enemies and strangers. It is a terrible problem. However, it's important to realize that this isn't only a problem in the higher grades. There is also a substantial amount of violence in Elementary Schools. Everyone is pointing the finger at everyone else. It's the parents faults, the televisions fault, video games, and whatever else. "overabundance of exposure to graphic violence in the news and entertainment media and, increasingly, in their homes and communities. All these forces affect the temperament of children, and each child expresses a unique set of responses to potentially inflammatory situations."(Preventing Violence) But no matter whose fault it is, it is important that teachers and other faculty do what they can to prevent it. The obvious reason is to keep students out of harms away, but another reason is that students learn better in environments where they feel safe.

Apparently there has been a substantial rise in elementary school suspension recently, but pschycology professor Irwin Hymen says ""It's a stupid, stupid, stupid policy," he says. "When a 5-year-old comes in violent, where does it come from? It comes from his home. And you're going to send him home?"(School Violence Hits Lower Grades). So then what do we do?

I don't think there is any straight forward answer on how to completely prevent it, but there are steps to take and procedures to follow to help deter violence. Teachers, faculty and school officials need to set a good example. What kind of example would we be setting if we lost our temper with the children daily? We also need to implement strict rules for violence. This includes bullying, fighting, bringing dangerous objects to school. But like professor Irwin said, sending them home might not be the best option. How about taking away privileges? Loosing out on a special or recess? Depending on the grade level a disciplinary action could be an assignment about violence in school. For many student's, sending them home is not much of a punishment. It could also be the source of their violence. We need to think of more creative ways to deal with it.

I also think it could be beneficial to include anti violence in our curriculum, we could start by teaching acceptance. Another step to take is to help students they know are in dangerous situations at home. As teachers if we see children coming in bruised, or even just very sad or angry everyday we should be reporting this. If we can help get children out of violent situations maybe they will be less violent.

As mentioned before there is no way to completely get rid of school violence, even if we searched students bags, put metal detectors in, installed video camera in every room, violence would still occur. That doesn't mean we should stop trying, or working on new techniques.

When I become a teacher I hope to have a classroom where students feel safe. I'll do my best to provide that atmosphere by telling my students my expectations, and helping them understand there are people here who will listen to them if they need to talk about something or if they need help.