Finding the Root of the Problem of School Violence Essay -- Shootings

Finding the Root of the Problem of School Violence After shootings at Jonesboro, Ark, Paducah, Ky, Springfield, Ore, Pearl, Miss, and Littleton, Co, serious questions arise such as has school violence risen, and, if so, what can we do to fix it. The truth is, school violence is on a rise, and it can be attributed to factors such as disinterest in learning, the total preservation of the civil rights of the students at all costs, and the lack of power the teachers and administrators have to punish misbehavior. Solutions such as forcing school uniforms, voluntary learning, and peer mediation take a long time to implement and an even longer time to see visible results, but they are necessary to ensure our future in America as educated peoples. We must be careful, though, to not go overboard in creating laws such as the zero tolerance rule in order to keep our schools both safe and fair. In finding appropriate, working solutions to school violence, we first need to find the root of the problem. Does the accessibility of guns really play a major role in the problem? The answer is no, it does not. Putting up metal detectors, forcing mesh (see-through) backpacks, and hiring thousands of uniformed security guards will not solve the problem (Cloud 1). Finding a permanent, better resulting answer demands a closer look at where the problem starts. Kids are growing up these days with little or no real punishment compared to thirty years ago. Kids just do not respect the teacher’s authority anymore because parents, concerned for the civil rights of their children, make teachers go through a long litany of proceedings in order to punish a student (Toby 3). A hearing must take place during which accusations must be made fully supported by witnesses to these accusations to suspend a misbehaving student. Ideas such as â€Å"zero tolerance† are created to try and give power immediately back to the teachers, yet it only causes more problems. The zero tolerance punishes severely any violation of a law, no matter how small or large the infraction might be, in order to make an example (Skiba 3). This punishing just discourages most students. As one interviewed student said, â€Å"when they suspend you, you get in more trouble, ‘cause you’re out in the street†¦I got in trouble more than I get in trouble at school, because I got arrested and everything† (5). The ... ...related to factors such as disinterest in learning, the total preservation of civil rights of students at all costs, and the lack of power teachers and administrators have to punish students. We need uniforms, peer mediation, voluntary high schools, and a reconnecting of community and school in all schools in order to overcome the rising violence. It is up to everyone to do his or her own part in keeping peace, and making sure we implement these safeguards to help obtain and keep the peace. Bibliography: Works Cited Cloud, John, and Cathy Booth, et al. â€Å"What Can the Schools Do?† Time 3 May, 1999. Britannica.com. CD-ROM. Information Access. 15 Nov. 2000 http://www.britannica.com Lehrer, Jim. â€Å"Re: School Violence.† Online Posting. 22 April, 1999. Online NewHour. 16 Nov. 2000 http://www.onlinenewshour.com Skiba, Russ, and Reece Peterson. â€Å"The Dark Side of Zero Tolerance.† Phi Delta Kappan Jan. 1999. Britannica.com. CD-ROM. Information Access. 14 Nov. 2000. http://www.britannica.com Toby, Jackson. â€Å"Getting Serious About School Discipline.† Public Interest. Fall 1998. Britannica.com. CD-ROM. Information Access 15 Nov. 2000 http://www.britannica.com