Violence is becoming the number one problem in United States schools. Approximately 20 percent of high school students regularly carry guns and other weapons. Several nonviolent measures are appropriate to reduce violence in schools; but only the implementation of multiple ideas and measures, not "quick fix" solutions, will curb violence. Peer mediation, a program in which selected students are trained as mediators to help their peers in resolving conflicts before violence erupts, may be one important measure. Research asserts the effectiveness of letting children resolve their own conflicts. Another violence-reducing measure is the elimination of school lockers, which serve as hiding places for weapons and contraband and also as congregating places where violent confrontations can start. An active Parent Teacher Association (PTA) could also have a profound impact on school violence. One way for parents to help is to create "safe houses" where students can feel safe from violence on their way home from school. Parents could also volunteer to patrol hallways, cafeterias, bathrooms, and school grounds, and to staff phone lines for unsupervised children who need help or guidance. Another measure is the federal government's Safe Schools Act of 1993, which sets aside funds for qualifying high-crime school districts. Not every method will work in every situation, therefore each school and district needs to evaluate its own situation and determine what will work best for it. (BCG)