Chapter Two: Introduction

The issue of violence in our society is complex and no one course will be able to arm the learner with the knowledge and skills to prevent violence in the schools.

New York State has a comprehensive approach to school safety. Passed by the New York State legislature in 2000, the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) legislation requires that persons seeking educational certification in New York State must participate in a two-hour violence prevention training.

Since violence is so insidious in our culture, it is difficult to examine the topic, particularly how to prevent violence, in a manner that is systematic and productive.

In the United States, an estimated 55 million students are enrolled in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Violence is a very broad concept; it permeates most aspects of our society, making it a difficult topic to address.

School safety has long been an issue, but in recent years, with high profile school violence episodes both nationally and internationally, as well as the growing realization that ongoing bullying is highly destructive, the focus on safety has increased.

SAFE SCHOOLS: Preventing School Violence