As a result of extensive media coverage, the tragedies at Columbine High School, Sandy Hook Elementary School, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are etched into the collective memory of American society. Shortly after the events at Sandy Hook, the National Rifle Association (NRA) presented a program to address student safety by arming…

Although school-based youth homicides and student fear of attack or harm at school have slowly decreased over the past two decades (Musu-Gillette et al., 2018), students are not free from worry; violence is still present in schools. School violence refers to acts of physical force, harm, or power that occur on school grounds or at school events…

Surveyed 225 South Dakota middle school educators to assess significance 18 social issues have for mankind and to what extent they are/should be included in rural social studies curricula. Ranked alcohol/drug abuse, pollution, and violence as top issues. Found issues not included in curriculum to extent educators felt necessary. (NEC)

Two rural elementary schools in southern Illinois were chosen from a larger study on the basis of low rates of student violence and bullying behaviors. Features of the schools' supportive and safe environments are compared to those described in theories of engaged pedagogy. A whole-school approach created an atmosphere of caring and shared…

A study of teacher and administrator perceptions of school violence and violence prevention programs in three rural school districts focused on personnel fears, frequency of school personnel victimization, school environment areas posing greatest risks, profiles of typical victims and perpetrators, school strategies to deal with violent behavior,…

New Mexico middle and high school counselors from small rural school districts perceived less substance use, gang-related violence, high-risk sexual activity, and sensation seeking among students than did counselors from urban and large rural districts and spent more time on administrative responsibilities than their counterparts. However,…

Research investigating perceptions of guns, gangs, drugs, and violence in rural schools surveyed 266 principals and counselors in rural elementary, middle, and high schools in northern Missouri. Smaller schools and elementary schools had fewer problems than larger and middle/high schools. Community collaboration is essential to solving…

A study examining school violence surveyed 819 students in grades 8, 10, and 11 in a rural secondary school in 1997 and 1999. Student feelings toward school safety were not significantly different in the 2 years. However, there was a significant decline in feeling safe at home, which may be a catalyst for future school problems. (Contains 24…

Since 1996, our research team has conducted 15 focus groups with 169 middle-school youth in small communities as formative research for campaigns against alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and violence. Some key findings of a synthesis of focus-group results are that girls and boys perceive different risks to alcohol and tobacco use; peer relationships are…