The Cause

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The Cause

Violent crimes occur for many different reasons. Students who rampaged through the high schools throughout the United States have all said to have one thing in common; their peers did not respect the attackers. These students say they have felt bullied, or not belonging or not fitting in to what the “popular” standards are. So why resort to anger? Many said it feels it gives them the respect that they were deprived of and what they felt they deserved. These students make national and world news headlines, and they feel they have power and control when resorting to violence. Other reasons include drugs and gangs, which are at the top of the list followed by disagreements.

CAUSES OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE

Types of Gun Violence.

Intentional shooting

65%

Accident

13%

Hostage taking

8%

Suicide

8%

Undetermined

6%

(Reynolds, 1993)

Percentages of Gun-Related Incidents on School Property

Drugs/Gangs

18%

Long-standing Disagreements

15%

Playing With or Cleaning Guns

13%

Romantic Disagreements

12%

Fights Over Material Possessions

10%

Depression

9%

Vendetta Against Society

6%

Racial Incident

5%

Name Calling

4%

Vendetta Against School Employee

4%

Undetermined

4%

(Reynolds, 1993)

Beyond all others, intentional shootings are at the top of the list for motives of violence in schools. Students deliberately go into schools with a weapon with the intent to use the weapon. The number one reason for this is drugs and gangs followed by long-standing disagreements. These disagreements include the students who were belittled by their peers in school. Most of the accidental shootings include elementary aged students bringing a ...

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.... 40.

Vernberg, E. & Twemlow, S. (2000). Profiling violent youth: comments & observations.

Children’s services, (3), p. 171+. Retrieved October 4, 2001 from Academic Search/EBSCO database.

(Sept/Oct 2001). Alternative perspectives on school violence. Humanist, (6), p. 36+. Retrieved October 4, 2001 from Academic Search/EBSCO database.

(1999) School protective services. Retrieved November 7, 2001, from http://www.schoolprotectiveservices.com

(2001, May 30) School safety lessons learned: urban districts report progress. Sept 12, 2001, from http://www.edweek.com/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=38security.h20

(2000). Violence. World Book Encyclopedia. (Vol. 25). Chicago, World Book, Inc.

Walsh, M. (2001, May 23) Court distinguishes between threats, free speech. Retrieved Sept. 12, 2001, from http://www.edweek.com/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=37speech.h20

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