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Violence in America's public schools
Statistical Bulletin (Metropolitan Life Insurance Company : 1984)
|April 1, 1994
Summary
School violence is a recognized problem, with students perceiving it more intensely than teachers. Factors like decreased education quality and increased minority/low-income students correlate with higher violence levels.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Criminology
- Education Policy
Background:
- Annual surveys by MetLife examine U.S. public school teachers' perceptions.
- The 1993 survey focused on perceptions of school violence among teachers, students, and law enforcement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess and compare perceptions of school violence among teachers, students, and law enforcement.
- To identify factors contributing to school violence and the reasons behind weapon membawa.
Main Methods:
- Survey of U.S. public school teachers, students, and law enforcement officials in 1993.
- Analysis of perceived magnitude of school violence and contributing factors.
Main Results:
- All groups recognized school violence as a problem, but perceptions of its severity differed.
- Students reported higher levels of witnessing and fearing violence compared to teachers.
- 11% of teachers and 23% of students were victims of violence.
- Violence and weapon membawa correlated with lower perceived education quality, higher proportions of minority/low-income students, and urban settings.
- Lack of parental supervision and family involvement were cited as major contributors by teachers and law enforcement.
- Students cited impressing friends/increasing importance (66%) as reasons for carrying weapons; teachers cited self-protection/impressing friends (38%).
Conclusions:
- Perceptions of school violence vary significantly among teachers, students, and law enforcement.
- Socioeconomic and educational factors are linked to school violence and weapon membawa.
- Parental and family factors play a crucial role in contributing to school violence.