Violence Among Students and School Staff

Book excerpt: According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control, children and adolescents have the highest risk of encountering violence in its many forms. Often, this violence can occur within their schools. It is an unfortunate truth that school shootings, stabbings, and other traumatic events happen on a regular basis. Education on the subject of school-related violence is vital, not just with regard to these horrifying yet rare incidents, but also to the vicious and more commonplace daily occurrences in American schools. Violence can be taught in school, but it can also end there. In this new guide for educators, Sean M. Brooks explores the origins of violent behavior and shows how teachers and administrators can stop a problem before it spirals out of control. Any failure to do so perpetuates it's very existence. In Violence Among Students and School Staff, Brooks invites you to examine the role adults play in adolescent violence. Every educator is responsible for noticing the warning signs of violent behavior, even as this formal education may be absent within college, university and K-12 school settings. Brooks helps you identify depression, aggression, frustration, bullying, drug use, sexual harassment, suicide, and unprofessional workplace practices; as these are antecedents to such destructive behaviors. Brooks reminds you that students are not the only instigators of violence in schools. Every indicator of violence among students can also be found among school staff. His guide can help you understand the motivations behind aggression and show you how to prevent violent behavior among students and school staff.