The United States School Violence Problem Research Paper

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to work out the problem of juvenile delinquency in school area. It is structured specifically in order to point out statistics and cases of school violence across the United States. The results showed that the problem of school-age crimes is concerned with both social and psychological trends. The theoretical explanation includes several theories identifying the reasons for crimes.

Some among them are relative deprivation theory, gendered resource theory and routine-activities theory. The latter is presupposed to be the optimal way to predict a potential homicide or suicide from the part of a teenager. The research also hypothesizes on the preventive way to be done for reduction of school violence. It concerns policing and financing aspects along with the terms within which the project can give positive results.

Introduction

School violence in America is a harmful effect that goes unresolved until now. A social problem is concerned with the involvement of young persons in crimes, such as beating, drug addiction, gun shooting etc. The role of adults in controlling adolescents is really high. This is why the construct of optimal plan for decreasing juvenile delinquency should be examined from inside out. The research outlined in this paper runs the gamut of the problem, so that to have a clear idea of sources and ramifications of the school crimes as well as to make emphasis on instruments applicable to break the problem down.

Methodology

The paper is constructed as separated into two parts going close in their aims. These include the first part discussing on the detailed description of types of crimes along with theoretical background for them. The second one represents reflections on public policy solutions. Thus, the main tools for making this research comply with the federal database on criminology and statistics on crimes at schools as per the recent years. The analysis touches upon the school violence across the United States pointing out the picture of the problem nationwide along with its subversive evaluation. The methodology presupposes using factual materials in their description and further estimation. Moreover, the research includes reflections on the theoretical ways to decrease criminal activity at schools being used in current practice or prototyped for the future implementation.

Results

Detailed Description of Type Crime and Appropriate Theories

Schools in America are full of danger for two categories of people visiting them, namely: schoolchildren studying and teachers (or adults) working there. In this respect, the types of crimes apparent currently are as such: gun shooting, beating to death, drug abusing, assaults of different levels and others. The question is that the situation across the country had hardly been improved. Conversely, the problem acquired rather terrific coloring. Cromwell (2006) admits in his review that “since 1992, there have been 201 homicides on school campuses nationwide” (1). It is no surprise to hear on the TV or radio news about yet another gun shooting in a campus or at school just during the classes.

School shooting is one of the most frequently used types of crime obvious in contemporary American schools. Undoubtedly, schools became unsafe due to the increase of gun shooting rates (Borum et al., 2010). This goes together with the fact that, first of all, the United States is the most armed nation per capita; the second, poor saving weapon in households. It is a responsibility of adults to save weapon far from children’s access (NYC.Gov, 2010).

A reverent recommendation is to have no guns at home at all. However, the statistics amazes. Thus, the survey of mid 1990s shows the following facts: “In the United States during 1997, there were 15,289 murders. Of these, 10,369 were committed with firearms” (Agresti, 1999). The percentage of firearms ownership and adults owning a gun is almost 50%. Since that time this fact did not change fundamentally.

Bullying is a factor that results in pressing upon beating of adolescents at school. This is mostly felt in Chicago. The case of Derrion Albert, a 16-year-old boy who was beaten to death by peers at Chicago Public School, deserves to be admitted (Vo, 2009). The thing is that the persons being accused of this crime have pleaded not guilty (Vo, 2009). The whole situation over such type of crimes still leaves much to be desired.

Drug abuse is also a crime for persons under age. In case with adolescents it is a significant factor to commit a more aggravated crime while being involved into some gang or cohort of peers. Young drug addicts are likely to be delinquent and rather dangerous for the society due to their aggressive and off-balance attitude to people around.

The scope of the suicide, homicide and other cases among adolescents at schools is really wide. It is concerned with the facts being admitted above. However, the statistics data provide a clear vision on the issue. One of the previous studies outlines a terrific statistics across the United States: “In the U.S. for 2006, there were 30,896 deaths from firearms, distributed as follows by mode of death: Suicide 16,883; Homicide 12,791; Accident 642; Legal Intervention 360; Undetermined 220” (UtahMed, 2010, p.1). This fact touches directly upon the involvement of children in suchlike crimes.

The case of Columbine High School and many others in the North-West American Public Schools envisions the reasons for shooting at schools. If it is a criminal assault, it is mainly of the backward character. In other words, in such cases adolescents are trying to respond aggressively on peers’ bullying or their attempts to do harm. The research on the coloring of young criminals showed the following characteristics:

All were male, 80% were white, 70% were described as loners, 43% had been bullied by others, 37% came from divorced or separated families, 44% were described as “fantasizers”, 42% had a history of violence of some sort, 46% had an arrest history, 62% had a substance abuse history, 48% were preoccupied with war or weapons, and 23% had a documented psychiatric history (Rose, 2009, p. 3).

In most cases adolescents likely to commit a crime are involved into gangs and are forced to get through the so-called “rite of passage” (Presentation 1, 2009). This procedure sometimes is closely related to crimes that can further overgrow into serious assaults or homicides. In case with drug abuse it is clear that the most frequently used drug is marijuana that is suitable as of price and ways to get it. Heroine is rather expensive for little criminals. However, it is also not that hard to purchase it in the school area (Bowes, 2010). Drug abuse among adolescents is concerned with different factors intervened in a person of a teenager. Hormonal and brain changes along with a desire to become adult as soon as possible lead toward mostly recreational character of using drugs.

The nationwide prevalence as of discussing on adolescent crimes is essential for today. It is understood that the most responsibility for school-age crimes lies on the adults. In this respect such factors as historical, social and financial background of families points out the possibility of crimes done at schools (Youth Violence, 2010). However, another opinion on this issue admits “psychological, neurological and cultural” factors (Fast & Marchetti-Mercer, 2009, p. 5).

Such statement finds proofs on cases of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (Columbine High School) and Seung-Hui Cho (Virginia Tech). These killed 15 and 32 persons respectively before killing themselves afterwards (New York Times, 2009). Such statistics takes into consideration that school criminals were rather affected by personal wrong attitudes tending to solve the disharmony in their state of mind. Along with adolescents dead or injured in such crimes, teachers and other staff, members were also involved in the list of fatal victims.

It is known that teachers and staff working in schools are also unsecured from being shot or dead because of shootings or assaults committed by teens (Constitutional Rights Foundation, 2010). In rare cases children become unsaved from the side of adults (even teachers) working in schools. The case in Tennessee when fourth-grade teacher, Mark Stephen Foster, shot school principal, Elisa Luna, and her assistant, Amy Brace, at Inskip Elementary School (Jacobs & Lakin, 2010). In fact, children were dismissed in time. That is why safety in schools has a bilateral character. Both youngsters and adults are supposed to represent a threat for the majority of schoolchildren.

The theoretical background for explanation of crimes is rather varied. It concerns several points on adult responsibility or, better to say, its lack. Moreover, such factors as ethnical, physical, emotional and intellectual play a great role for would-be or current criminals and their victims as well. One should designate a social control theory when discussing on psychological and developmental trends influencing on adolescents (Henry, 2009).

This point can be emphasized by the statement that children seem to have a lack of engagement into conventional culture (Henry, 2009). Children in the United States go through different impacts from the environment. They are suffering from appearing wrong to their neighbors. Currently, they also have little impulses from the government, as parens patriae. This is the domain of government as of keeping children in safety in places where educational and behavioral grounds are taught.

One more touch is imposed looking at some more theoretical grounds suitable to the emergence of crimes in school areas nationwide. Hence, social disorganization theory, relative deprivation theory, and gendered resource theory take place, as explaining particularly the main grounds and motives of young criminals (Spriggs et al., 2009). Children are disorganized in their first steps into the real adult life due to what they see at home. The violence is obvious for many families living in the United States. It is seen in cases when one parent beats or kills another one. Thus, a child becomes a part of such victimization.

The environment is another factor for adolescent to be closer to the bad side of the society. The studies on social affairs comment on the logic of an adolescent being involved into criminal activity just for survival or trendy character of such initiative. It is one of the most viable reasons that relate to the formation of a would-be criminal. These areas of social life should be taken control of the government along with different public organizations.

The study of Levin and Madfis (2009) highlight the routine-activities theory by Cohen and Felson (1979). In this respect cases taken place at Columbine High School and Virginia Tech weaken explanation of features helpful for doing what the accused persons had done. Hence, the theory underlines the following points to be of great significance for committing massacre, namely:

1. Suitable targets are available.
2. Effective guardians are absent.
3. Motivated (or “likely”) offenders are present (Levin and Madfis, 2009, p. 1239).

However, along with the generally accepted opinion that violence in schools is a result of offenders’ bad performance in their families is not always true. The question is that multiple studies proved the idea that children living in good families and having no financial lack can also be engaged with bad companies. In this respect social-process criminology theories do not explain criminal behavior of above listed examples of crimes at school (Sociology Department, 2010). The perpetrators in both cases were not supposed with some constant violence or irresponsibility coming from their parents.

The problem was rather hidden in their psyches. This is the result when an adolescent wants to do harm, as a symbol of that he/she dares do such trouble to all offenders. As a result, the scope of victims exceeds the circle of direct “objects” for bursts of rage.

Both social and psychological approaches are suitable to analyze the reasons from inside out. However, it is the point to state on the universal character of different theories used in criminology. Every case of crimes committed in the school area needs special and quite applicable theory, for cases vary in their characteristic features. Such great as sociological imagination is about to be useful for determining the site of potential aggression in its aggregate character (Presentation 1, 2009). In this respect criminology along with the executives in providing safety of social relationships between adolescents needs more insights in the versatile framework for criminal activity among youngsters.

Public Policy Solution

The first part of the paper provides real examples of adolescent violence in schools. The cases of Seung-Hui Cho, as a firestarter, and Derrion Albert, as one among multiple victims of school violence, have been represented with points on further increase of the problem. The research showed that in the US the rate of firearms deaths by Mode of Death for Children less than 15 years old is the highest. The routine-activities theory comprises an optimal explanation for school violence. The purpose of this part of the paper is to provide solutions as to decrease the rates of violence in American schools. In this respect such aspects of the issue as optimal ways to stabilize the situation are taken into consideration.

The scope for the solution comprises cases of violence across the US. In this way it is possible to point out that the practical use of the methods provided in this part of the research proves initial expectations outlined in the opening part. Thus, the findings show that the problem has effective ways to be implemented since now. The results are supposed to be apparent in the long run, namely within five years after the start of the project. All in all, the whole part describes the implementation of the intensive method for improving the situation. It includes a tripartite unity of three main figures for adolescents, i.e. parents, teachers, and government. To run the gamut of the project, one needs to encompass the period of five years.

Looking at the situation being apparent to the United States, one should make up his/her mind on the best instrumentation to decrease the problem. In this respect the paper outlines the steps to be done for making changes across the country. It concerns evaluation of needful actions along with data on costs and period within which the project will give positive results. Thus, one is better to nuzzle close to the peculiarities of the project. The next piece of advice is to weigh suggestions in order to think over their practical use.

School violence in America has some ways out. In this respect the situation can be improved by a package of actions that need more attention of all figures of influence in the country. To make it easy to understand, the role of adults, as those showing the true pathway for their off spring, is of great importance. First of all, it corresponds to parents. Their participation in the formation of a mature and rationally-thinking child is the most important.

The fact, that most of the American families are not concentrated around good behaving is taken for granted, unfortunately. Here lies an obstacle that provides a gap between parents and children. It is about to grow each time the misunderstanding of children’s “cries for help” appears. The world of human beings is rather cruel, and it is hard for a youngster to counteract against a group of dangerous peers. Thus, parents must pay more attention to children’s safety outdoors and at school, particularly. Constructive far-from-being-indifferent conversation can help in this case.

Addressing School Violence: A Comprehensive Strategy

Thus, parents are at a focus. In divorced families, the situation should go along with the governmental programs serving to increase positive impacts on adolescents through conventional culture. The next step should be supposed with the role of a teacher in the classroom and throughout the education process. A teacher is one of the figures of influence for a child. This person should not be indifferent and naïve about what is happening in teens’ hearts while growing up. He/she should be aware of the trendy movements in youth culture, so that to find out and then work out a set of measures to tactically reduce negative impacts from outside.

The thing is that music and different sub-cultures overall are apt to affect adolescents with the course of time (Fast & Marchetti-Mercer, 2009). The end of this leads to destruction in many cases. It does really matter when it considers the lives of a child or children.

Thus, a strategic view on the whole situation should be presupposed with teacher’s awareness of what to do at the moment. It is necessary to admit that the most of the students point out teachers do not pay enough attention to cases of bullying or some psychological and physical attacks (Rose, 2009). They usually think that things will go in a right way, if they do not engage in case of conflicts between some teens. It is extremely wrong to think that such situations are not of teachers’ domain (SSHS, 2010). That is why there should be programs for improving teachers’ social performance as per preventing extreme situations at school. The government should also support it.

Both parents and teachers ought to love their children and be devoted to them. Realizing their direct needs and the stage of their growing up, adults can relate them toward the way of success. It is vital to understand such point. The family influences on adolescents’ choice of living life. A detrimental effect is in the fact that adults do not consider what excites or worries children now. “American kids are better off now than ever in terms of longevity, justice, medical care, social mobility, and education” (Presentation 2, 2009, p. 26). Generation “gap” stimulates teenagers to finding cohort of peers sharing the same views on life. On this stage one may constitute an obvious faulty act of parents and teachers. Hence, it is better to start changing adults’ attitude to adolescents right now.

At least, the third figure of influence is the government. This social, political and economic structure is of the main significance in the country. The United States on behalf of the Department of Education should work out and maintain direct programs for reducing crimes in schools. It is one of the first vital steps to do in the internal policy of the country. The question is in implementation of regular financing for supporting families and educational establishment in need of adolescent violence reduction. The main areas to implement changes are curbing firearms ownership on a legislative base and making education process supported by more impacts from adults.

The first way should be provided through making amendments to current acts on bearing and holding firearms. Living in a “gun culture”, citizens of America should not be surprised of hwy children have access to guns (UtahMed, 2010). Of course, it is not convenient and legal for the governmental representatives to come in and check that firearms are inaccessible for children. It is ridiculous. However, government should promote relevant check-ups in order to be sure there is no danger coming from this or that family and their children. In case of violation of such norm of law, parents should be subtracted an administrative fine. It concerns mainly to social improvements as of the situation under analysis.

On the other hand, dealing with the psychological dimension of adolescents as being a source for possibility of crime, governmental programs should be constructed, so that to lay more emphasis on deterrence. Deterrence policy can make progress about the issue due to several beliefs coming in action until being done, namely:

• Get caught (certainty)
• Get caught swiftly (celerity)
• Be punished drastically (severity) (Presentation 4, 2009, p. 9)

In this respect governmental programs on taking control over adolescent can succeed theoretically. On the other hand, Ron Akers’ social learning theory can definitely decrease the problem directly at school. In this case the points on Differential Association and Differential Reinforcement are thought of being preventive measures (Presentation 4, 2009, p. 32). The idea is that teachers should unassumingly concentrate students’ attention on the worse examples from peoples’ lives. The sound mind can be activated through repetition and warmth of such doing in class. The government should provide support in implementing such effective and informative programs as:

• General suicide education (facts about suicides);
• Screening programs (identifying high-risk groups);
• Peer support programs (fostering peer relationships) (Robertset al., 2009, p. 152).

In fact when three outlined elements (parents, teachers, government) stay in touch, the routine-activities theory on crime emergence can be predicted in time. In this respect the proper financing is needful. The average sum that is better to spend for improving the situation is $100 million. It is calculated in accordance with the facts from previous studies. Thus, “the cumulative lifetime cost in 1985 for gunshot wounds was estimated to be $911 million, with $13.4 billion in lost productivity” (UtahMed, 2010, p. 1).

Adolescents are the future of the nation. That is why the government should count on the more significant losses that can destabilize economy of the country in its internal sector. Children should live in safety that is provided legally and financially with purpose of providing cultural, educational and behavioral treatment for those being on edge of committing crime.

The whole program should encompass the US. The problem is essential for all, without an exception, states. School violence needs improvements. However, one should keep it in mind that it is not that easy to work out the problem soon. Hence, the project outlined is applicable to give results within period of 5 years. It seems to be long, but one should take into account that the previous politics on violence decrease resulted in nothing, for sure. Thus, rather intensive and direct methods should be used to fasten the process of societal healing.

It is logical to imagine that “society teaches individuals to pursue desirable ends” (Presentation 4, 2009, p. 38). For this aim there should be healthy society with high priority of rational social initiatives and innovations. However, the government should pay more attention to methods to deal with different ethnical minorities in terms of constructive dialogue with adolescents. This seems to be rather naïve, but the reason is that discrimination still represents an obstacle in the American society. It also provides an argument for Latin Americans, African Americans and other ethnical entities to think that the majority (whites) made them struggle and be involved into vortex of crimes. Unless there are weighty grounds to reject such reasoning, the American nation is about to fail the war with juvenile delinquency.

The government participation in the issue under analyses should even overcome the delineated frontiers. The thing is that “poverty, population turnover, and crime in the surrounding neighborhood are among the strongest predictors of school violence” (Nickerson & Slater, 2009, p. 227). Thus, the improvements of social reality surrounding some adolescents being inclined to commit a crime should be supported separately for positive changes.

To say more, federal government should work together with the local governments on the issue of letting guardians in school possess guns. This will definitely make them effective to counteract against an armed adolescent in order to save the rest of potential victims. Needless to say, students know this fact. They may even manipulate with inability of guardians to use rather efficient methods against violence other than baton or gas balloon along with handcuffs. They are destined to be used in close contact with an enemy. Thus, guardians also become unsafe to shooting.

Another area of financial resources assignment (out of $100 million) is adolescents’ health improvement policy. It is vital to note that the psychological approach toward the problem outlines that such teenagers have mental deviations. Thus the healthcare system needs special point related to provision of effective treatment for students for two purposes: prophylactic and healing. In this respect the methodology of such treatment should take into consideration such points as:

• Substance abuse
• Mental health problems
• Impulsiveness (Presentation 1, 2009, p. 18)

Conclusion

Overall, the period of implementation of a program until reaching its effect should be supported on four levels. Adults should not ignore any of these, for if there is a lack of concernment, the whole project will be broken down. The four levels to be under strict control are: family level, school level, peer-group level, community level (Presentation 1, 2009). The routine-activities theory, as being the one to explain the prerequisites for committing school massacre, still plays a great role for understanding intentions of a criminal. Levin and Madfis (2009) fairly outline that “for a massacre to occur, a number of suitable targets must be available for slaughter” (1240).

This peculiarity makes possible for a delinquent schoolchild to schedule his “way of blood”. Again, the easiness of access to firearms at homes of many adolescents cannot prevent children from taking or playing with arms. The case of Kip Kinkel of Springfield, Oregon was reasoned due to his father’s giving semiautomatic rifle, as a gift to his son (Levin and Madfis, 2009). As a result, lots of students were dead as well as many of them were wounded. Thus, there measures on improving situations should be implemented right away.

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