Lesson plan: Solutions to school violence
September 6, 2000
Web posted at: 10:25 PM EDT (0225 GMT)
RELATED SITES
Objectives
Students will:
- Identify possible causes of school violence.
- Relate school climate to violence in schools.
- Justify student activism against school violence.
- Evaluate existing school safety programs for their success in creating solutions for safer schools.
Standards
National Council for the Social Studies, II. Civic Ideals and Practices
High school students increasingly recognize the rights and responsibilities of citizens in identifying societal needs, setting directions for public policies and working to support individual dignity and the common good. They learn by experience how to participate in community service and political activities and how to use democratic process to influence public policy.
Materials
CNNfyi article, "Getting serious about school safety"
Internet access
Graph paper, markers
Suggested time
Two to three days
Procedures
1. Discuss with the class school violence in particular, then ask the following questions:
- What do you think precipitates school violence? (Compile a list of possible causes.)
What do you think should be done to curb acts of violence in schools?
Have students read the CNNfyi article, "Getting serious about school safety." Then ask the following questions:
- What percentage of students have been victims of a school-related violent act? Can you recall the various suburban and small towns from the article where school-related violence occurred? How would you describe students' reactions to measures and policies that followed these acts of violence? What incident in particular set off discussions regarding gun control and crisis plans? According to Jane Grady of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, what is part of the problem regarding school climate? What does she suggest as a catalyst for change?
- Newburgh, Indiana, student Jessica Nation said, "Whenever I go to school, I have the fear of wondering what might happen." What inference can you make about her fear? Do you think that other students have this fear? Why or why not? What facts would you select from the article to show the need for student involvement in creating safer school environments? Do you believe that there is a relationship between school climate and school violence? If so, what is the relationship? Do you believe that students should play an active role in creating safer climates? Why or why not? What is the function of peer mediation or conflict resolution groups in schools? Do these groups help the school's environment, in your opinion? Explain. How would you rate your school's safety program (if one exists)?
2. Direct students to conduct a survey of their peers to assess attitudes, feelings and ideas about school safety as well as suggestions for improvements. Have students create at least five survey questions related to school safety. The following is one example: How safe do you feel at school? (Answers could be ranked as such: very safe, safe, unsafe.) Students may work in teams or individually to survey their team, grade level or other groups of students within the school.
Accommodation
Logical-mathematical intelligence: Students may want to make a graph to represent data found in either the survey activity or research activity above.
Assessment
Allow students to present their findings to the class. Discuss, based on their findings, what kinds of policies students believe the school should enforce to increase school safety.
RELATED SITES:
National Crime Prevention Council
Center for the Prevention of School Violence
CSPV Center for Study and Prevention of Violence
National School Safety Center
Younger Americans Act
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