More Violence Seen in Schools Than 5 Years Ago

Violence in schools is a more acute problem than it was five years ago--a result, primarily, of the breakdown of the family and the portrayal of violence by the media, according to 700 of the nation’s school districts.

Alcohol and drug abuse, poverty and easy access to guns were cited as other major causes.

“Now that we have solid information on the causes, we must take up the difficult task of working with federal and state government, parent groups, the business community and the media in finding solutions,” said William Soult, head of the National School Boards Assn., which did the survey.

Thirty-nine percent of responding urban districts reported a shooting or knifing in schools last year, and 23% reported drive-by shootings. While the reports of violence were highest in urban districts, both suburban and rural districts reported increases in the number and seriousness of violent incidents, including rapes and shootings.

“This report clearly shows that the concern about violence in our nation’s schools now extends to all communities--urban, suburban and rural,” Education Secretary Richard W. Riley said.

Seventy-seven percent of the responding districts said that “changing family situations”--including everything from children living in poverty to a lack of supervision in upper-income families--is the primary cause of violence. Sixty percent blamed the violence on the media.

The association sent surveys to more than 2,000 organizations and received responses from 700.

“A broad spectrum of rural, urban and suburban districts responded,” said John Butler a spokesman for the association. “So it gives you a pretty good idea of what is going on.”

In an effort to deter violence, school districts have used an array of tactics: suspending students, increasing police presence on campuses, teaching students alternative ways of handling conflicts and setting up separate schools for disruptive students. Thirty-nine percent of urban and 10% of suburban school districts said that they used metal detectors, and 19% of urban and 11% of suburban school districts said that they had installed closed-circuit television cameras.

In one innovative approach, the Broward County, Fla., school board hired a former New York City gang member to work with teachers, parents and students to discourage children from joining gangs.

The report said that legislative remedies, at the federal and local level, are essential if the problem is to be addressed.

The Clinton Administration has called on Congress to pass legislation that would provide money to school districts facing severe crime and violence problems. The National School Boards Assn. applauded the measure in its report.