Violence in Our Schools Essay - 1257 Words

Violence in our Schools Children today are growing up in an increasingly violent atmosphere, both in society in general and in their schools. While there is no easy answer as to how to end this violence once and for all, we can look at some of the causes and take steps to contain that which we can. The main contributing factor in all recent school shootings has been the shooters’ feelings that they were bullied by and alienated from the rest of the children and were made to feel that they were not as good as their peers. Being targeted by the other children and having nowhere to turn to for help can cause a build up of more anger until, finally the alienated child is unable to take anymore. They struck out at their peers in what seems†¦show more content†¦These children are often from less fortunate homes and do not have good role models from which to learn coping and socializing skills. When these students are targeted, they have nowhere to turn and are at a loss as to how to end the harass ment. If they do go to parents or faculty, they are often told that they need to try harder to fit in. The awkwardness of the victims is frequently focused on instead of the actions of the bullies, leading to increased instances of poor self-esteem and feelings of isolation. In turn, this leads to the victims’ need to retaliate against the bullies, creating even more bullies in the system. Those who behave as bullies believe that they are â€Å"making a statement against society† by rebelling and causing more disruption in the school environment. When bullies are placed in settings they cannot control, they try to exert influence in the form of violent or threatening acts or words directed towards teachers and other students. They often get away with this behavior because of their tendency to surround themselves with others like them. They form small groups which consist of other children with low self-esteem and a history of delinquency, and together they are often intimidating, increasing their ability to terrorize without consequences (Bennett-Johnson, 2004, p199). Their disrespect for school rules and guidelines is often traced right back to factors they are exposed to outside of school, such as gang involvement, lack of parentalShow MoreRelatedViolence in Our Schools1176 Words   |  5 PagesCan Violence in Our School Be Reduced The problem we are facing today with violence in our schools is a major concern with communities all over the world. School violence wears many faces. It can be gang activity, locker thefts, bully and intimidation, gun use, or anything that products a victim. Violence is perpetrated against students, teachers, and staff and ranges from intentional vengeance to accidental killings and bystanders. Can violence in our schools be reduced? 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