Reducing Violent Student Behavior

It is not always possible to predict aggressive student behavior and no single warning sign can, by itself, predict violence. The list below may be used to help identify children who may need help. The steps to help with each potential warning sign represent only a partial list of possible strategies schools and parents can take to prevent violent student behavior toward self or others. Schools and parents should work together to develop additional strategies.

Recognize Early Warning Signs

  1. Social Withdrawal
  2. Excessive Feelings of Isolation
  3. Excessive Feelings of Rejection
  4. Victim of Violence
  5. Feelings of Being Picked On and Teased
  6. Little Interest in School and Poor Academic Performance
  7. Violent Writings and Drawings
  8. Uncontrolled Anger
  9. Impulsive and Chronic Hitting, Intimidating and Bullying
  10. Previous Discipline Problems
  11. History of Violent and Aggressive Behavior
  12. Intolerance for Differences and Prejudicial Attitudes
  13. Drug and/or Alcohol Use
  14. Involved in Gangs
  15. Inappropriate Access to Firearms
  16. Serious Threats of Violence

Steps Toward Prevention and Intervention of Violence

  1. Be aware of all students.
  2. Encourage participation in classroom and extracurricular activities.
  3. Reach out to those who do not get involved. Discuss concerns with their parents and help them locate appropriate support services.
  4. Develop a mentoring program at school where individual students are matched with a volunteer or staff member. Utilize other mentoring programs in the community. Utilize a peer tutoring program.
  5. Report identified abuse and neglect. Provide individual support. Work with parents and local professionals to access appropriate counseling services.
  6. Have zero-tolerance for bullying, teasing and ridiculing. Refrain from using sarcasm. Allow bullied students the opportunity to express their feelings appropriately.
  7. Utilize available individualized academic strategies. Involve him/her in a peer tutoring program. Assess possible environmental/family causes of poor performance.
  8. Ask about the work without confrontation. Determine if the aggression is directed consistently at specific individuals. Seek professional assistance if concerned.
  9. Take action to ensure safety of nearby students and self. Calmly, ask him/her to leave the room, or leave with all others. Seek immediate, appropriate assistance.
  10. Involve parents. Take action early in childhood. Involve other professionals and health care providers. If early elementary, individualize plans to modify behavior.
  11. Seek parents’ observations, insight and support.Utilize a team effort to develop appropriate strategies.
  12. Communicate from class to class and school to school during transitions. Seek appropriate counseling and health care evaluation and intervention. Consider alternative placement.
  13. Have zero-tolerance for all prejudicial behaviors. Implement an acceptance awareness campaign at the middle school level.
  14. Utilize effective, research supported, drug education programs. Be aware of available treatment services for abuse and addiction. Educate parents faculty and staff.
  15. Have zero-tolerance for gang behavior. Follow a dress code. Educate parents about gangs. Work with local law enforcement. Involve kids in extracurricular programs.
  16. Work with parents and community groups to implement firearm safety programs and encourage consistent parental monitoring and supervision of kids’ access to firearms.
  17. Any detailed, specific threat should be considered serious and professional, planned interventions should take place immediately.