Table of Contents
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xix
1 Background and History 3
Types of School Violence 4
Measuring School Violence 12
Brief History of School Violence Incidents 18
Legislation and Court Decisions 37
Supreme Court Cases 40
Conclusion 47
Further Reading 48
2 Problems, Controversies, and Solutions 63
Effects of School Violence 63
Biological Theories 66
Psychological Theories 70
Rational Choice Theory 72
Social Strain Theories 74
Social Learning Theories 79
Social Control Theories 81
Labeling Theories 82
Conflict Theories 83
Integrated Theories 85
Feminist Theories 86
Risk Factors 87
Individual 87
Family 94
School 97
Community 99
Protective Factors 100
Individual 100
Family 100
School 101
Community 105
Interventions 105
Anonymous Tip Lines 105
Profiling 106
Dress Codes and Uniforms 107
Metal Detectors 108
Video Cameras 110
Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation 110
Peaceable Schools 111
Restorative Justice 112
School Police Officers 112
Canine Searches 114
Zero Tolerance Laws 115
Other Laws 116
Conclusion 121
Further Reading 121
3 Perspective 133
A Student's Perspective on the Dangers of Bullying: Lashanti Jupp 133
Reflections on Mean Girls: Lauren Lorance 136
Sticks and Stones Can Break My Bones, but Names Will Never Hurt Me? Approaches to Language Mis(uses) in Schooling: Kelly Concannon 138
The People's Court in a South Bronx Elementary School: Evelyn Jackson 142
Creating and Sustaining Positive School Climates: De Palazzo 145
Being Out 152
Confidentiality and LGBT Students: It's the Law 154
Our Gender-Nonconforming Youth and Transgender Youth 156
Creating a Safe Space for All: Policies, Programs, and Practices 156
Federal Law 158
State Law 159
Local Policies and Acts 159
Other Key Ways to Show Allyship to LGBTQ Youth 159
Resources 163
Is There More School Violence Today? A Veteran Educator Says No: Sarah Raitter 164
Reflections on Peacejam and School Violence in the United Kingdom: Larenda Twigg 166
Preventing School Violence: Barbara J. Wien 176
Violence as a Continuum 176
Shifting U.S. Culture 177
Ending War and Violence 179
Cultivating Caring Communities 183
How to Build Community 184
Best Practices in Reducing School Violence 187
Working for a Higher Purpose 190
The Circle Model 190
Organizing for Peace in Your Community: Six Steps for Success 192
References 199
Activism against Domestic and Dating Violence: Stephanie Wong 200
Turning the Personal into Progress: Robert Spencer Knotts 204
4 Profiles 211
Part I 212
Bath, Michigan, School Bombing 212
Columbine Massacre 215
Laurie Dann 219
Kip Kinkel 222
Adam Lanza 226
Barry Loukaitis 228
Patrick Purdy 229
Evan Ramsey 232
Charles Carl Roberts IV 234
Steubenville High School Rape Case 236
Jeff Weiss 239
Phoebe Prince, Bullycide 240
Amanda Todd, Bullycide 241
Part II 242
Break the Cycle 242
Geoffrey Canada 243
Riane Eisler, JD 246
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) 247
Jackson Katz 249
Paul Kivel 251
Hank Nuwer 252
StopBullying.gov 253
Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) 255
Further Reading 257
5 Data and Documents 265
Data 265
Figure 5.1 Trends in school-associated violent deaths, 1992-2010 266
Figure 5.2 Percentage of students in grades 9-12 who reported being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property at least one time during the previous 12 months, by grade: Various years, 1993-2009 266
Figure 5.3 Percentage of public and private school teachers who reported that they were threatened with injury or that they were physically attacked by a student from school during the previous 12 months, by locale and instructional level: School year 2007-2008 267
Figure 5.4 Percentage of students ages 12-18 who reported criminal victimization at school during the previous six months, by type of victimization: Various years, 1995-2009 268
Figure 5.5 Percentage of students ages 12-18 who reported that gangs were present at school during the school year, by urbanicity: 2007 and 2009 269
Figure 5.6 Percentage of students ages 12-18 who reported being targets of hate-related words and seeing hate-related graffiti at school during the school year, by selected student and school characteristics: 2009 270
Figure 5.7 Percentage of students ages 12-18 who reported being bullied at school during the school year, by selected bullying problems and sex: 2009 271
Figure 5.8 Percentage of students ages 12-18 who reported cyberbullying problems anywhere during the school year, by selected bullying problems and sex: 2009 272
Figure 5.9 Percentage of students ages 12-18 who reported avoiding school activities or one or more places in school because of tear of attack or harm during the school year: 2009 273
Figure 5.10 Percentage of students ages 12-18 who reported selected security measures at school: Various years, 1999-2009 274
Documents 275
Sandy Hook Elementary School Violence Reduction Act 275
Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2013 276
Barack Obama's Statement on the School Shooting in Newtown, Connecticut 281
The Myths about Bullying: Secretary Arne Duncan's Remarks at the Bullying Prevention Summit 283
6 Resources for Further Research 295
Books 295
School Violence 295
Bullying 298
Specific Cases 299
Hazing 300
Civil Liberties 300
Gender 301
Dating and Sexual Violence 302
Suicide, Eating Disorders, and Self-Harm 302
Theories and Explanations 302
Responses 303
Media 305
Recommended Journals 305
Journal Articles, 2010-Present 307
Websites and Organizations 309
Films 316
7 Chronology 323
Glossary 339
Index 351
About the Author 359