Violence has once again raised its ugly head in some of our schools. The fact is, violence of one sort or another is part of many schools today. This may be on a small scale between two children or on a larger scale involving a small group of children fighting amongst themselves.
There has been an upsurge of incidents of violence among many of our schoolchildren and this violence is not limited to the fist; it has extended to dangerous weapons. In some cases the weapons being used are knives, chair legs, wood and even metal. These situations are so serious that in some cases students have incurred injuries leading to them being hospitalised. This has led to the police being summoned and the perpetrators brought before the law courts.
Although a few of these extreme cases have reached the public domain, there are still some that go unreported and are dealt with at the level of the schools. This behaviour is totally unacceptable and should not be condoned. How far is too far? Are we going to wait until the weapons change and the wood is replaced by the gun?
Regardless of fluctuations in its rates, incidence and categories, violence in schools is a problem. If not dealt with or nipped in the bud, it will continue to fester, creating an ongoing challenge to the educational environment.
What are the solutions to this monster? Violence in our schools demands a “all hands on deck” approach where parents, students, educators, churches, social service organisations and concerned individuals are informed about the problems, causes and effects, joining collectively in the search for solutions. There should be no hiding of this issue. This group should discuss the way forward, developing a framework for implementing a plan for curbing violence in schools.
I believe there should be school-based interventions as well as behaviour management systems put in place to aid students in dealing with conflict and help stamp out the problem of violence. With the necessary counselling, those children who have shown anger management problems would be provided with the necessary coping skills. In addition, training should be provided for those who would be intricately involved in assisting students to deal with the issues that often trigger violence.
Parents, be careful what advice you give to your children. Those simple words, “if someone hits you hit them back”, can be one of the foundational bricks to violence, even though to you, they may just be a suggestion of a defence mechanism. It is still a good practice to advise your children to report instances of badgering or bullying to someone in authority.
Please expose your children to conflict resolution skills. Remember that children model behaviours and they will emulate those exhibited in the home. It is therefore imperative to display appropriate conflict resolution skills within the home.
Teach your children that resorting to violence is not the answer.
• Rhonda Blackman is an educator, a reviewer with the British Research Journal and a member of the American Education Research Association. Email [email protected]
