Y&M Magazine - March/April 2001 - Resource on School Violence and Discipline Issues

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Resources on School Violence and Discipline Issues

Also in this issue...
School Shootings in Context

Unfortunately many recent discussions of school shootings have shed more heat than light on the issues of school violence, violence among youth, and violence in the larger society. Too often reactions have been simplistic: lock down the schools; identify students who fit certain stereotypes; institute tough, draconian disciplinary problems; school uniforms; and zero tolerance policies.

Experience has shown that these reactions are based on a misunderstanding of the root causes of societal violence, and they are largely ineffective.

The following resources can help you think about these issues in another way. They show the shortcomings of many of these traditional approaches and profile promising efforts to improve the climate for teaching and learning in schools.

	*Zero Tolerance Makes Zero Sense,* Action for Better Schools (Spring 2001), newsletter of the National Coalition of Education Activists. This resource takes a comprehensive look at school disciplinary policies, their racial impacts, and identifies promising approaches to creating safe and fair school environments. The newsletter also contains a comprehensive listing of helpful resources, contact organizations, and local campaigns. In 1995, NCEA produced a report, School Violence in Context ($3), an oldie but goodie. National Coalition of Education Activists P.O. Box 679 Rhinebeck, NY 12572 phone: 845/876-4580 e-mail: Ncea@aol.com.
	*School House Hype: Two Years Later,* produced by the Justice Policy Institute (Washington, DC) and the Children’s Law Center (Covington, KY), April 2000. The report examines myths about school safety, school crime and juvenile arrests. It also exposes the harmful and discriminatory impacts as well as the ineffectiveness of get tough policies. Online at www.cjcj.org/schoolhousehype/.
	Turning To Each Other, Not On Each Other: How School Communities Prevent Racial Bias in School Discipline, by Susan Sandler and the Justice Matters Institute, 2000. $10. Learn more about what some communities are doing to create peaceful schools and fair disciplinary policies. An excellent resource. Justice Matters Institute 814 Mission St., Suite 602 San Francisco, CA 94103 phone: 415/243-8113 or 415/243-8808 web: /www.edjustice.org/ and www.justicematters.org.
	*Readings on Schools, Youth, and the Culture of Violence,* a resource packet compiled by the American Friends Service Committee, National Youth and Militarism Program, April 2001, $2.50. AFSC Youth and Militarism Program 1501 Cherry St. Philadelphia, PA 19102 phone: 215/241-7176 e-mail: youthmil@afsc.org web: www.afsc.org/youthmil.htm.
	*Beyond Suspensions: Safe and Orderly Schools That Educate All Students,* Milwaukee Catalyst, 2001, $7. This booklet includes case studies of Milwaukee schools which have lowered their suspension rates. It describes what practices work, explains why suspensions are harmful, makes suggestions for change, and presents lower suspension rates in a reform context. Milwaukee Catalyst 2714 N. MLK Drive Milwaukee, WI 53212 phone: 414/264-4010 e-mail: mkecatlst@aol.com.
	Violence Policy Center. The Violence Policy Center works to fight firearms violence through research, education and advocacy. VPC conducts research on violence in America and works to develop violence-reduction policies and proposals. The center views regulating the gun industry as key to stopping school shootings. VPC has exposed how the National Rifle Association uses its gun safety program, known as Eddie Eagle, to market guns to kids. VPC resources are available on-line at: www.vpc.org.
	*Reducing and Preventing Youth Violence: An Analysis of Causes and an Assessment of Successful Programs,* Pedro Noguera, InMotion Magazine, April 28, 1996, reprinted from Harvard Educational Review. Available on-line at: www.inmotionmagazine.com. (See "Education Rights" section.)

Compiled by Harold Jordan of the American Friends Service Committee’s National Youth and Militarism Program. You can contact him at youthmil@afsc.org. We'd especially like to learn about other resources of value.