Family-School Connection and School Violence Prevention

Childhood and youth violence in the schools is a major concern in the United States. School-associated violent deaths between 1194 and 1999 have increased, and significantly more students report taking a weapon to school. This paper discusses the causes and correlates of school violence, including the accumulation of social and psychological risk factors related to violence and the effect of the interaction between the child's biological predispositions and home and school experiences on the child's ability to develop positive values, form positive relationships and attach to the school. The paper further describes violence prevention strategies and programs in the schools that emphasize the importance of a connection between the family and the schools which are both embedded within the broader community. These strategies and programs include families and schools collaborating to teach, model and reinforce prosocial behavior and anger management, communicating successes and problems, facilitating student involvement, and building parent/school/community partnerships that support school-based peacekeeping projects. Additional suggestions that increase active parental involvement in the school, positive parent/school communication, and school support through parent/school/community partnerships are provided.