Pro-active and positive about school safety

September 6, 2000
Web posted at: 7:01 PM EDT (2301 GMT)

By Greg Botelho
CNNfyi Writer

(CNN) -- "There are so many amazing, good things that are happening," said Philip Lovell, 21, a student intern at the National Crime Prevention Council. "School violence is a very rare thing. Because it's rare, it gets covered."

The media, Lovell said, focuses too much on the violent episodes. But little attention is paid to what's being done to make schools and communities safer.

Students leaders and experts insist there are a lot of important, positive things going on behind the scenes. After years of inactivity interspersed by knee-jerk reactions, they say there's finally a real dialogue about school violence -- one in which young people are becoming increasingly involved.

Students nationwide have developed programs aimed at getting to the root of the problem, by cultivating a better understanding of different people, dealing with anger and conflicts and forging a strong sense of community.

Brandon Boxler, 17, said that the group he heads, Students Against Violence Everywhere, has been encouraged after sponsoring cultural diversity festivals and school dances "that show that we can have fun without conflict." National Crime Prevention Council President Jack Calhoun singled out a recent play he saw by, and about, pregnant teens as a great way to promote understanding.

In Washington, Lovell said that he's helping craft a bill called the Young Americans Act, which aims to use government funds to help create a national youth policy.

This bill, currently being considered by a Congressional committee, is modeled on the Older Americans Act, passed in 1965. It would distribute $2 billion (95 percent going to state and local agencies), money that would help assure youth access to various programs and resources.

Most of the developments have occurred at the local level. Student-run peer mediation and conflict resolution programs have sprouted at schools around the country. "That helps a lot -- it helps people get a hold of their anger," said Jessica Nation, 17, a senior at Castle High School in Newburgh, Indiana.

Younger Americans Act
Center for the Prevention of School Violence
Center for Study and Prevention of Violence
National Crime Prevention Council

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