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Report RACISM IN NY'S SCHOOLS ALLEGED
School Safety
History of
Police Brutality
Case
Studies of Police Brutality
Giuliani's
Ton Ton Macoutes
Resources:
Center for Constitutional Rights (800) 764-0235
National Coalition on Police Accountability (312) 663-5392
National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights 212 614-5355 rperez@boricuanet.org
National Peoples Campaign - 39 West 14th Street, #206, NY, NY 10011. (212) 633-6646;
(Fax) (212) 633-2889
Speak Out! - POB 99096, Emeryville, CA 94662 Phone: (510) 601-0182; Fax: (510)
601-0183; speakout@igc.apc.org |
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Many schools throughout the
United States are struggling with rising levels of youth violence. Schools have adopted a
broad range of solutions to curb violence. The four programs GAO visited--in California,
Ohio, and New York--are examples of some of the promising approaches schools have
initiated to address violence. Research suggests that the most promising school-based
violence-prevention programs involve at least some of seven key characteristics, including
a comprehensive approach, starting early, and involving parents. Although few prevention
programs have been evaluated, some federal agencies are now funding evaluations to examine
various violence-prevention program approaches. The results, which should be available in
three to five years, will help determine which programs work best at curbing violence. The four school-based violence-prevention programs that we visited
all show initial signs of success. Schools in the Anaheim, California, program, stressing
school management and order issues, reported reductions in the incidents of student
fighting, graffiti, and defiance of authority. Paramount, California, schools uses an
antigang curriculum to reduce gang membership among students who participated in the
program. The Dayton, Ohio, program provides students with social skills and
anger-management training. According to program officials, student participants had fewer
juvenile court charges than a comparable group of students. Similarly, a New York City
program has used conflict-resolution and peer-mediation training to reduce student
fighting. For example, 71 percent of teachers observed less physical violence among
student participants. |
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Violence-prevention literature
and experts consistently associate at least seven characteristics with promising
school-based violence-prevention programs. These characteristics are (1) a comprehensive
approach, (2) an early start and long-term commitment, (3) strong leadership and
disciplinary policies, (4) staff development, (5) parental involvement, (6) interagency
partnerships and community linkages, and (7) a culturally sensitive and developmentally
appropriate approach. Another innovative
program--the Beacon Initiative--operates in New York City, where about 36 schools now stay
open 7 days a week from early morning until late evening--providing "one stop
shopping" services such as counseling, tutoring, recreational activities, vocational
training, and a safe place for kids to "hang out." New York, New York's RCCP
program is widely regarded as one of the most promising violence-prevention programs among
public health experts. RCCP is a school-based program in conflict resolution and
intergroup relations that provides a model for preventing violence and creating caring
schools that are conducive for learning. According to the program officials, RCCP
teaches students that they have many choices besides passivity or aggression for dealing
with conflict, gives them the skills to make those choices real in their own lives,
increases their understanding and appreciation of their own and others' cultures, and
shows them that they play a powerful role in creating a peaceful world.
The program's primary strategy for reaching young people
is professional development of the adults in their lives--principals, teachers, and
parents. RCCP works intensively with teachers, introducing them to the concepts and skills
of conflict resolution and diversity. Through ongoing staff development, teachers are
supported as they teach these concepts and skills in an ongoing way to their students. |
