Curriculum, Culture, and Community: The Challenge of School Violence

It is possible to imagine a school designed and managed effectively for safety as well as education. Public schools, once considered a response to urban violence and disorder, now are widely believed to be hostage to them. Although broad national studies do not demonstrate a dramatic increase in school violence since the 1970s, serious violence and disorder are real for some students in some schools. Factors associated with risk are poverty, inner-city residence, enrollment in junior high school, and living in a family and community where violence is common. Physical security measures like metal detectors are only a partial solution. Curricular responses include classes in conflict resolution, self-esteem, multicultural sensitivity, and other subjects. Administrative responses include alternative schools, staff development, and efforts to alter the school culture. Community-outreach programs include principal-led committees of school, neighborhood, and city officials; joint projects with local police; and aggressive efforts to bring social services to students' families. Evaluation findings remain mixed but suggest that altering a school's internal culture can do much to reduce violence even for schools in violent communities.