School violence can be reduced

To the editor

By:
   We see it happen in school all the time: fights break out in the middle of the hallways, during lunch periods and even in the bathroom. School violence is a daily problem at every school across the nation, and it is not going away. It not only threatens people in an environment which should feel secure; it creates an uncomfortable setting for students and teachers in which they cannot learn or teach to their potentials.
   The federal government defines school violence as not just violence by students but any homicide, suicide, or threatening act, like an average fist fight on school property, on the way or to or from school or while attending or traveling to or from a school sponsored event. School violence, in any shape or form, is not acceptable if the school expects its students to learn to their full potential.
   The facts say that school violence is escalating in the U.S. with each new school year. According to the National School Safety and Security Services, the 2003-2004 school year brought 48 school related deaths nation wide. This is more than any year in the past decade and more than the past two years combined. When compared to all the other countries in the world, most school-related violence is done in America. In Europe, programs have decreased bullying and school violence by 30 to 40 per cent.
   If America can get its schools to be like European schools and adopt programs to help reduce their bullying and violence, we may be able to prevent future violence from an average fistfight to a major catastrophe like the infamous Columbine incident.
   Everyone related to the school environment can help prevent school-related violence; teachers, parents, and even other students can help. Parents can start by talking to their kids without any problems they may have. This may avert any future school problems.
   Second, parents should be advised to avoid keeping firearms. They not only put them at legal risk, firearms may be jeopardizing others’ physical safety if children bring them to school.
   Teachers should talk to their students about violence in schools and teach them the dangers and consequences involved. Teachers should also have a zero tolerance policy on any violence, not matter how small the act is.
   Other students should tell a friend’s problem to a guidance counselor or another person they can trust, even if this means breaking a promise not to tell. This may prevent a certain person from carrying out a violent act towards himself or someone else. Also, students should always report any suspicious activity or knowledge of people carrying weapons in school to an authority.
   Violence in our school creates an uncomfortable atmosphere where students and faculty cannot achieve their full potentials, even though they are in an environment which should feel safe.
   Everyone associated with the school environment, whether it is a teacher, parent, or student, can help make America’s schools safer.
   Even with all the school violence in our nation today, we can still make a difference; we should all take action to help prevent this danger and keep our schools and students out of harm’s way.

Anthony Rosa
Hillsborough High School