Students' Reports of Violence Against Teachers in Taiwanese Schools

This study reports preliminary findings of a national survey on student violence against teachers in Taiwanese schools; 14,022 students from elementary to high school (grades 4 to 12) participate in this study. Students were given a structured and anonymous questionnaire including a scale for reporting their violent behavior against teachers. Findings suggest the prevalence of violence against teachers varies by gender, grade level, and school type. A majority of perpetrators reported engaging in violence because of a teacher's unreasonable expectations. Findings indicate that intervention programs need to focus on promoting the quality of teacher-student interactions as a major prevention variable.