The speaker notes the rise in the rate of violence and vandalism in the schools and cites a poll indicating how important secondary school principals think the problem is. He lists a number of factors contributing to school crime--the breakdown of the family and family control, glamorization of violence on television and film, street crime, drug abuse, anonymity in the neighborhood and school, a philosophy of self-serving expediency, subgroup solidarity with no allegiance to the larger society, and contempt for the value of personal and public property. Six contributing factors perhaps seen more clearly by secondary school principals than by other citizens, are lethargic courts, openness of schools, student rights, teacher apathy, parent ignorance and/or indifference, and the collateral curriculum (the influences on a child that do not come from the school). The speaker recommends the enactment of legislation similar to the Safe Schools Act, prompt attention by the courts to acts of alleged crime in the schools, curriculum reform to meet the heterogeneity of student needs, involvement of students in all programs, and establishment of innovative programs such as using "trailer watchers" on school grounds. (IRT)