Violence And Vicmization At School

9 Pages 2327 Words

Abstract
This paper will examine how violence at school can impact young children’s lives. The phenomenon of school violence is multi-determined. There is no cure that exists for violence prevention in schools. However, research suggests that professional school counselors would be most effective in violence prevention if they implemented a multidimensional violence prevention program. This paper will also examine the aim of such a program which is: to change group norms about violence, to enhance family relationship characteristics, to improve peer relationship skills, decrease substance abuse, to decrease impulsivity and to increase empathy.














Introduction to Violence
Violence has become a pervasive and regrettable reality in the United States. This country has more assaults and murders than any other country. Every day more than 60 Americans die in homicides. Each year, 25,000 Americans are murdered with homicide being the most common cause for death for black youth (American Psychological Association Commission on Violence and Youth, 1995). The amount of violence and seriousness of violence involving youth 18 and under has increased dramatically during the last 10 to 15 years. For instance, juvenile homicides have increased five times faster in the past 5 years than have homicides committed by adults (Osofsky, 1997). Youths are committing violent acts at a younger age. In 1988, almost 1.6 million youths were arrested, 69,000 of them for violent crimes, which included murder, rape robbery and aggravated assault. Of these youth, 18,000 were between the ages of 10 and 14 (American Psychological Association Commission on Violence and Youth, 1995). In a survey of first and second grade students in Washington, DC, 45% reported having witnessed muggings, 31% reported having witnessed shootings and 39% reported having seen dead bodies (American Psychological Association Commission on Violence and Youth, 1995...