A PRIMER ON SCHOOL VIOLENCE PREVENTION

Violence has reached epidemic proportions in the United States with particularly serious health implications for school-age children and adolescents. Schools that experience the daily threat of potential student violence have their primary mission of education eroded at great cost to students. This article reviews the problem of violence in public schools and summarizes existing knowledge on school violence prevention. Violence prevention programs that use educational, regulatory, technological, or combined approaches are reviewed. Recommendations are presented addressing both policy and program needs related to control of violence in public schools. School health professionals should be active participants in violence prevention efforts. A critical need exists to carefully evaluate any planned prevention program so future efforts can be built on methods proven successful.