School violence refers to the use of force against students and causing them physical or mental harm. Bullying, ragging, harmful pranks, etc., all come under the heading of school violence. Unfortunately, it has become a norm in our society nowadays and has prevailed so much that eliminating it seems challenging. However, there are some steps that you may take to reduce the chance of violence at your school. Following are some of them.

Define rules and limitations:

The first thing you can do to prevent the violent behavior of students at school is to define crystal clear rules and regulations. It is the school’s responsibility to clearly define the limitations a student has to observe inside and outside of the school. Not mentioning any specific rules regarding the disciplinary behavior of students and hoping then to behave appropriately is rather a fool man’s dream. You cannot expect something from students without stressing the importance of that thing or behavior. It is crucial to include clear rules regarding the expected and accepted conduct of students at school. The consequences of non-compliance must also be mentioned.

Communicate:

Communication is vital to get things done for yourself. Without communication, there are minimum chances of achieving your goals. There must be an easy and uninterrupted communication channel open between students and teachers. Teachers must communicate to the students the importance of tolerance and composed behavior at school and in society. Tell them about the guideline of your school and comprehensively explain the consequences of violent behavior on their life. Moreover, encourage students to share their problems with teachers freely so that they can find a better solution for them and they do not find the need to be violent with others.

Discourage prejudice and stereotypes:

When there is regular communication between teachers and students, teachers can know about the thinking pattern of students. When you discuss different matters with them in the class, you learn about many misconceptions, prejudices, and stereotypes students may have formed. They can be a result of their society, personal experience, misleading sources of information, or simply bias. It is the responsibility of teachers to politely discourage any prejudices and stereotypes existing in classrooms and encourage fraternity and mutual respect. Although it is nearly impossible to vanish stereotypes simultaneously, little effort can go a long way and give desired results.

Develop anger management skills:

The knowledge of skills is equally important, along with the knowledge of different concepts. You may know about a concept, but it would be useless for you in real life unless you have the right skill to execute it. Besides cognitive, analytical, and decision-making skills, anger management skills are also crucial for every student without discrimination. Anger is undoubtedly an instinct that cannot be suppressed easily, and everyone faces it. Therefore, every student needs to learn anger management skills to channelize their anger in the best possible manner. This would allow them to exhibit more composed and calm behavior during uncertain situations and ultimately help in reducing school violence.

Involve parents:

Violence is a behavioral problem that is not confined to school boundaries; rather, it can quickly spread in society. One-way efforts to control violence can prove inefficient and insufficient in most cases, and therefore, it is better to involve parents in this process. Make them aware of the cons of violent behavior for school, society, and the individual as well. Ask them to keep an eye on their children’s behavior at home and take corrective measures immediately when needed.

Early detection:

The process of coping with violence at school starts with detecting the problem, and early detection means that you are almost halfway through. Teachers must be attentive and vigilant of any slight change in students’ behavior, thinking, or actions pointing towards violence. Be more vigilant of students who are likely to behave violently in any uncertain situation and keep counseling them repeatedly without mentioning them.

Timely intervention:

The magnitude of a problem related to violence can be significantly reduced by terminating it at the initial stages. Every individual has the freedom of expression and the right to maintain their privacy, but at certain times, intervention becomes necessary. Teachers must know when a discussion in the classroom is going towards a personal dispute and come forward immediately to tackle it. Similarly, parents must know when to intervene in their child’s lifestyle and check if he is mentally and emotionally sound.

Report:

Misconduct that goes unreported can provide the basis for a bigger loss in the future. Direct the teaching and non-teaching staff of the school to immediately report any misconduct or suspicious activity that they may observe. A small fight between two students can turn into a horrible spat within moments, and therefore, it is important to report such incidents. Also, encourage students to report any unhappy incident they see without any fear quickly. Hold someone responsible for responding to these reports.

Involve students:

The most important party in matters regarding school violence are students. You cannot discipline them without involving them directly and indirectly in the process of eliminating school violence. Conduct sessions with them to make them aware of its importance besides strategies to cope with it. Make them responsible for themselves and their fellows. You can help students develop friendly relations by assigning them tasks, assignments, and projects in the group. Instead of seeking individual cheap assignment writing service help, encourage them to assist each other in problems regarding academic matters. When students have healthy mutual relationships, they would be less likely to be involved in violent activities.

Introduce incentives:

It is widely accepted that incentives performs a significant part in influencing desired behavior. Students are motivated to either do something or refrain from it if they get something in return. Introducing positive and negative incentives for exhibiting the desired behavior at school can help in limiting violence.

School violence cannot be reduced or eliminated without collective efforts from every individual in society. It is a collective problem and needs to be handled accordingly. The suggestions mentioned above help cope with violence at schools efficiently, and you can implement them confidently.