THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL IN REDUCING THE VIOLENCE AMONG THE YOUTH Headmaster: Prof. Ana-Verginia...

THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL IN REDUCING THE VIOLENCE AMONG

THE YOUTH

Headmaster: Prof. Ana-Verginia MunteanuTeachers: Mirela Marin, Liliana Constanda

The Challenge:

„The violence moves at the school gate”

A real case occurred in a school somewhere in a city in Romania.

One Saturday, the students are called to school for leisure activities. During the break, two students from the 5° grade go out of the courtyard, in order to buy some food from a store nearby. Four young men begin harassing the two girls, which get scared and run in the school.

The four men are blocked by the policeman at the school entrance.

Under the fists and feet blows, the policeman tries to retreat into the school following two of the assailants, who managed to enter in the school. One of the individuals pulls out a knife and cuts him on the abdomen, then the four manage to escape.

The policeman radios for a mobile crew. In less than ten minutes, the criminals are caught and taken to the police station and subsequently investigated by prosecutors for assault, battery and other violence.

The case presented is a fortunate example; the violence was stopped at the school gate by the policemen’s attitude and prompt response. The violence can be prevented only by setting up special security measures in the schools, but also by an adequate civic education.

Also, in this case, it was possible for the policeman to escape with small injuries because he was wearing warm clothes and jacket, and the blade of the knife did not penetrated deep into the skin.

Source: “Evenimentul Zilei” journal

The above article was merely a pretext for usto conduct a study at the school level on the topic: THE SCHOOL’S ROLE IN REDUCING VIOLENCE AMONGYOUTH, study done in the second semester of the2009-2010 school year.

Fundamental concepts: – Cultural model– Behavior– Motivation– Young generation

Objectives:– Knowing the actual level of the violence;– Determining the real impact of this phenomenon

on the youth; – Identifying the necessary measures for

controlling this phenomenon

Hypothesis

• As long as the violence in society will continue to be publicized by the media, the youth violence and aggression will increase.

• If the form and content of the educational activities meet the current needs of the students, then they are more open to accepting and adapting their behavior.

• The degree of informal organization of adolescents determine how they see the system of rules and specific behavior patterns of the community.

Methodology

– Individual interview– Direct observation of some activities where youth

were involved– Participated observation done by the author where

youth were involved– Questionnaire applied to the students

The concept “Cultural model”• Dimensions

1. The perception of school institutional norms and rules

Variables: - knowing the school norms; - accepting the respect of these norms; - accepting the casual breaking of the norms; - accepting the frequent breaking of the norms;

- total disagreement with the norms.

2. The control of the group Variables: - acknowledgement of the rules system and requirements of the

group; - acknowledgement of the specific sanction system of the

group; - acknowledgement of the specific reward system of the group; - accepting this sanction system; - the limits of the acceptance by the group of the individual

behaviour .

3. Participating in activities of the informal groups Variables: - group membership; - group attachment; - acceptance of the group’s rules system; - adherence to group’s requirements; - acceptance of one’s place in the group; - satisfying the need for security; - imitating some colleagues’ roles. 4. The control of the school Variables: - acknowledgement of the school’s rules systems for

evaluation; - positive evaluations by the teachers; - negative evaluations by the teachers; - acknowledgement and acceptance of the sanction

system; - acknowledgement and acceptance of the reward

system; - the level of violence intolerance of the teachers

5. The student’s language Variables: - knowing the group’s specific language; - using this language in various situations; - recognizing the spending level of the specific

language; - recognizing the level of acceptance by the

society of the language;

6. Participation in extracurricular activities Variables: - participating in leisure time activities; - group participation; - adaptation to the group’s rules; - competition desire; - wish for success.

Questionnaire

1. In your ordinary life how often do you use: Very often OftenSometi

mesRarely Never

a) Physical violence (beatings, stealing, ecc.) (you can refer to only one/some of these manifestations, not to all)

b) Verbal, emotional violence (offending, threatening, mocking, harassing, racism ecc.)

2. Towards whom do you use physical violence:

a) parents

b) teachers

c) friends, colleagues

3. Towards whom do you use verbal, emotional violence:

Very often

OftenSometimes

Rarely Never

a) parents

b) teachers

c) friends, colleagues

4. Where do most of the violent episodes you undergo take place:

a) School premises

b) Near the school

c) home

d) On the street

e) Other options…………………………………………...

5. At home, at what level are you exposed to:Very

oftenOften

Sometimes Rarely Never



6. At school on the part of the teachers, at what level are you exposes to:



7. At school on the part of your colleagues, at what level are you exposes to:



8. On the street, at what level are you exposes to: Very often Often Sometimes Rarely Never

a) Physical violence (beatings, stealing, ecc.) (you can refer to only one/some of these manifestations


9. Do you consider you are/were exposed to (physical, verbal) violence from:

a) parents b) teachers

c) colleagues

d) friends

e) Other persons. Which?

10. In which situations does it happens that you are disrespectful, using also some form of violence (verbal/physical)?

teachers

When they use inappropriate discipline measures (beatings, humiliation, offences, ecc.)When they have preferential behaviour When they are not honest (during evaluations, with their requirements, ecc.)When they are (too) permissive, tolerantWhen they are (too) strictFor no reasons (because I enjoy it)Other situations. Which? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Parents

When they use impropriate discipline measures (beatings, humiliation, offences, ecc.)When they are not honestWhen they are too permissive and I know I do not get punishedWhen they are (too) strictWhen they do not give my allowance or what I ask forBecause I enjoy getting on their nervesOther situations. Which?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

friends, colleagues

When they do not respect me eitherWhen I feel I am superior and they cannot reply the same wayBecause I enjoy getting on their nervesOther situations. Which?.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11. Usually, after you used violence: Very often Often Sometimes Rarely Never

a) You win the respect of the others, you are stronger

b) You win material goods (money, objects)

c) You feel better because you’ve let it all out

d) You lost the respect of the others, you feel sad

e) You are ashamed

f) Other options ……………………………………………

12. At what level in your society it is present:

a) Physical violence (beatings, stealing, ecc.) (you can refer to only one/some of these manifestations


13. Which of the following measures are necessary for having violence under

control?Very often Often Sometimes Rarely Never

a) Launching programmes in which parents are involved in solving the episodes of violence in school

b) Launching educational programmes to learn how to deal with and solve conflicts

c) Establishing/ publicizing free call lines where one can ask for counselling and advice

d) Involving students in more extracurricular activities (scientific, artistic, sports, ecc.)

e) Paying more attention to the hours with the class tutor (preparations, methods ecc.)

f) Broadcasting in TV and radio more educational shows

g) Restricting violent movies and shows

h) Strengthening the control and roughen the sanctions

i) Other options………………………………………...

Interpretations:

The questionnaire was applied to 448 students in the 8 th grade (the last grade of lower secondary school) and it resulted that there is an increased number of violent episodes in school. In 25% of the cases we see physical violence among students and in 30% of the cases we have verbal violence.

Very often

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

1 a.In your everyday life how often do you use physical violence?

1 b.In your everyday life how often do you use verbal violence?

Very often

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

2. Towards whom do you use physical violence?

These results should make us think.

The violent episodes are directed towards:

23% on parents

10% on teachers

50% on friends and colleagues

Sometimes

Very often

Often

Rarely

Never

2. a. parents2. b. teachers

Sometimes

Very often

Often

Rarely

Never

2. c. friends, colleagues

Sometimes

Very often

Often

Rarely

Never

We note that 35% of the interviewed students declare that on the street they feel that the violence is more present, while 29% declare that the violence more present near the school. This way we can explain the feeling of insecurity that some of the students have but also the violent episodes that appear near the school.

3.Where do most of the violent episodes you undergo take place?

At school

Near the school

At home

On the street

Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never

5.a At home, at what level are you exposes to physical

violence?

Sometimes

Very often

Often

Rarely

Never

5.b At home, at what level are you exposed

to verbal violence?

Sometimes

Very often

Often

Rarely

Never

6.a At school on the part of the teachers, at what level are you exposes to physical violence?

Sometimes

Very often

Often

Rarely

Never

6.a At school on the part of the teachers, at what level are you exposes to verbal violence?

Sometimes

Very often

Often

Rarely

Never

7.a At school on the part of your colleagues, at what level

are you exposes to physical violence?

Sometimes

Very often

Often

Rarely

Never

7.b At school on the part of your colleagues, at what level

are you exposes to verbal violence?

Sometimes

Very often

Often

Rarely

Never

8. On the street, at what level are you exposes to violent episodes?

Sometimes

Very often

Often

Rarely

Never

9. You consider you have been exposed to violence by:

Parents

Teachers

Colleagues

Friends

11. Usually, after you used violence:

You are ashamed

You lost the respect of the others, you feel sad

You feel better because you’ve let it all out

You win material goods (money, objects)

You win the respect of the others, you are stronger

Very Often

Often

Rarely

Never

Sometimes

Sometimes

Very Often

Often

Rarely

Never

12.a At what level in your society it is present physical violence?

Very Often

Often

Rarely

Never

Sometimes

12.b At what level in your society it is present verbal violence?

Very Often

Often

Rarely

Never

Sometimes

13. Which of the following measures are necessary for having violence under

control?Very often Often Sometimes Rarely Never

a) Launching programmes in which parents are involved in solving the episodes of violence in school

15% 16% 10% 18% 41%

b) Launching educational programmes to learn how to deal with and solve conflicts

15% 23% 31% 20% 11%

c) Establishing/ publicizing free call lines where one can ask for counselling and advice

31% 20% 22% 15% 12%

d) Involving students in more extracurricular activities (scientific, artistic, sports, ecc.)

27% 20% 17% 20% 16%

e) Paying more attention to the hours with the class tutor (preparations, methods ecc.)

25% 19% 26% 22% 8%

f) Broadcasting in TV and radio more educational shows10% 9% 45% 25% 11%

g) Restricting violent movies and shows 5% 11% 30% 33% 21%

h) Strengthening the control and roughen the sanctions 5% 12% 35% 30% 18%

Most of the interviewed students believe that the school has the greatest influence on the acquisition of civic and socio-professional values such as: freedom of expression, creativity, competence, active conduct, civic culture, the spirit of competition, cultural training, success, heroism and patriotism.

The fact that these values are mainly attributed by the students to the school lead us to believe that the various media attacks on the role of education in terms of values acquired by students have no grounds.

The school is maintained, thus, the first among institutions in terms of positive influence on youth. So the source of violence in schools is not represented by the values that the educational institutions promotes or by the behavior patterns that teachers offer students but, rather, the school is the area of manifestation of violence that has originated elsewhere.

THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL IN REDUCING THE VIOLENCE AMONG THE YOUTH Headmaster: Prof. Ana-Verginia...

Documents

Transcript of THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL IN REDUCING THE VIOLENCE AMONG THE YOUTH Headmaster: Prof. Ana-Verginia...