Crime prevention in school used to be a foreign concept, but it is now an all-too-real concern. There are many ways that school officials and local law enforcement have stepped up to introduce plans to make children safer within the walls of education. This partnership extends to students, parents, educators, and community organizations as well. The more diligent were are as a society regarding awareness, common sense safety protocol, and communication, the safer we will all be.
Disagreements are a fact of life. One of the purposes of institutionalized education is to prepare young people to grow up to be productive members of society. When issues arise among the student population, there are several groups that need to step in and/or keep a close eye on the situation to prevent it from escalating further. Students should try to communicate in an effective and healthy way instead of turning to a physical altercation. Teachers are obligated to de-escalate a situation and work towards a problem-solving approach. Sometimes it might be just hashing things out verbally in a mediated environment. Parents also have a responsibility to view the situation with a non-biased lens, listening to all the facts. Children will mimic their parents so it’s important for them to set a good example of fairness and maturity.
There are a variety of common-sense regulations that should be agreed upon by everybody within a school. No student should ever bring to school anything that could be construed as a weapon. This means expanding the list beyond knives and guns. There are many implements that can be perceived as a weapon when used in a threatening manner. Again, this is the responsibility of both parents and the students themselves to reign in any impulsive, emotional thoughts of settling a score or intimidating others.
Cyberbullying is a whole new kind of danger that didn’t exist with previous generations. Because of technology, students can essentially reach beyond the school day to torment their victims 24/7. This can lead to violent retribution, such as school shootings or suicides. Anti-bullying campaigns within a school need to address the capabilities of modern-day bullying tactics.