The facilitator spoke directly to individuals, as well as the group therefore extrapolating the true meaning behind some of the participant's comments. For the most part, the facilitator kept the personal bias out and asked tailored and appropriate questions.
Surveys and Focus Groups
Focus groups are interesting, yet hard to deal with. On the one hand, they allow the public the chance to speak, thus portraying the abstract symbolism and concentrations that drive the actions of individuals on a daily basis. Yet, on the other hand, findings can often be hard too read or inconclusive based on this high level of abstract concepts that derive from such sessions. The strengths of focus groups rest in the ability to test out certain theories, illustrate the major connections between concepts, and to test how the public reacts to certain concepts (Brophy, 2005). It is a crucial step in understanding very complex and abstract…...
mlaReferences
Anderson, Don. (2009). Public Policy Praxis: A Case for Understanding Policy and Analysis. 2nd Ed. Pearson Publishing.
Brophy, Joseph F. (2005). Focus groups: You can't afford not to use them. State Bar of Texas. Web. http://www.bishoplondon.com/documents/focus-groups-you-can-not-afford-not-to-use-them_paper.pdf
Cooper, Michael & Sussman, Dalia. (2013). Massacre at school sways public in way earlier shootings didn't. New York Times. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/18/us/poll-shows-school-shooting-sways-views-on-guns.html?_r=0
Huesman, L. Rowell. (2007). The impact of media violence: Scientific theory and research. Journal of Adolescent Health, 4(1), 6-13.
School Shootings by Adults or Juveniles
[Criminal Justice]
The increased number of school shooting incidents in America during the last two decades has gained public attention. Authorities are very much concerned regarding how to control these tragic incidents in the schools of different states. These shootings in schools conducted by adults or juveniles; have created an impression that schools are not a safe place for students.
However, in reality the situation is not that dangerous as perceived by public and most of the schools have been greatly successful in keeping their students safe. In contrast, many of the schools do face serious problems due to school shootings; which need to follow the effective evidence-based strategies in order to keep their schools safe and free from violence.
Why will an adult or juvenile bring a weapon to school or open fire on his colleagues and teachers? Are these adults and juveniles angry or have any…...
mlaReferences
American Psychological Association Zero Tolerance Task Force. (2008). Are zero tolerance policies effective in the schools? An evidentiary review and recommendations. American Psychologist, 63, 852 -- 862.
Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010) Fact Sheet. Understanding School Violence, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
Dinkes, C. And Kelly, W. (2007). Indicators of school crime and safety: Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, and Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (1994 -- 2000). Uniform crime reports: Crime in the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office
School Shootings as a Natural Escalation of Less Lethal, Juvenile Violence
The issue of youth violence is one very much in the news since the Columbine High School shootings and the other incidents of schoolyard violence that have occurred with grisly regularity over the last several years. But while such shooting sprees are perhaps the most striking example of people under the age of 18 intentionally committing violent acts against other people, Columbine and other school shootings are in fact only a very small element of the overall picture of juvenile violence. Indeed, both these school shootings and other, more common acts violence by young people can be seen as merely the natural development of other kinds of less lethal juvenile violence.
Whenever we hear on the news about another crime committed by another juvenile - often a child who seems barely old enough to make their own after-school snacks -- it…...
mlaReferences
Earls, F.J. (1994, Winter). Violence and today's youth. Future of Children 4 (3): 4-23.
Grisso, T. (1996, June). Society's retributive response to juvenile violence: A developmental perspective. Law and Human Behavior 20 (3): 229-47. http://classic.sacbee.com http://www.ardemgaz.com/prev/jonesboro/aiother29.html http://www.cya.ca.gov/http://128.192.30.16/LegisGame/g7/issues/A10.htm
Kellerman, J. (1999). Savage spawn. New York: Ballantine Books.
Wodarski, J. (1997). Juvenile violence: The high risk factors, current interventions, and implications for social work factors. Journal of Applied Social Sciences 22 (1): 3-14.
School Shootings
Violence in schools is a complex problem whose causes are difficult to pinpoint. Statistics gathered on school violence do not follow the norms of society as a whole. A National Crime Victimization Survey compiled and maintained by the U.S. Department of Justice, shows that overall crime rates in U.S. society have fallen. Simultaneously, school-based studies reveal that many violent behaviors have increased among children and adolescents ("Causes of School Violence").
Public schools reporting violent incidents increased from 71 to 81% over a recent five-year period according to a joint study by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice. Furthermore, that same study found that the percentage of students who reported gang presence at school increased from 21% to 24%. Although no direct connection between gang activity and school violence has been established gang activity in neighborhoods and schools often coincides with increased violence reports.
One of…...
mlaWorks Cited
"Causes of School Violence." Constitutional Rights Foundation. (2011). 1 December 2011.
Dedman, Bill. "10 Myths about School Shootings." MSNBC.com. 10 October 2007. 1 December 2011. < http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15111438/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/myths-about-school-shootings/ >
Freydis. "The School Shootings Report." Holology. August 2011. 1 December 2011.
old fairy tale which has been called various things such as "Chicken Little" or "The Sky is Falling, The Sky is Falling" but whatever it is called the moral of the story remains the same: mistaken beliefs repeatedly said do not make the belief true. Throughout the ages, society has had to adjust to situations where scams, rumors, and mistaken beliefs have had to be handled in an appropriate way. The examples where society has not necessarily handled these circumstances are numerous. The Salem witch trials, Hitler's attack on the Jews in Nazi Germany, and even Orson Welles infamous radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds," are all examples of how society reacted irrationally and inappropriately to reports and information. In each of these incidents, the media, in various forms, played a significant role and, as society becomes more media savvy and dependent, media's role and influence has…...
mlaReferences
Burns, R. And Charles Crawford. (1999). School shootings, the media, and public fear: Ingredients for a moral panic. Crime, Law and Social Change, 147-168.
Cohen, S. (1980). Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The Creation of the Mods and Rockers (New Edition). Oxford, UK: Martin Robertson.
Goode, E. And Nachman Ben-Yehuda. (1994). Moral Panics: Culture, Politics, and Social Construction. In E. Goode, Moral Panics (pp. 149-171). Oxford, UK: Blackwells.
Goode, E. (2009). Moral Panics: the social construction of deviance. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.
Main Title
Improving School Safety Measures to Address the Problem of School Shootings
Abstract
School shootings are a problem that, unfortunately, is not going away. Every year there seems to be another one, and by now the list is far too long for any civilized society to continue to view itself as civilized. What is at the heart of the problem of school shootings? Is it guns? Is it a lack of school security? Or is it something else? This paper will examine some of the most deadly school shootings before discussing the Uvalde elementary school shooting of 2022. Then it will examine the possible gun control measures and school safety measures that could resolve the problem. It will conclude with a suggestion that American society take a closer look at the mental health of school shooters.
Introduction
The recent shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, left 19 children and two teachers dead. …...
mlaWorks Cited / Bibliography
Barker, M. (2014). The Trouble with SSRIs. Retrieved from Huffington, A. (2007). Virginia Tech Aftermath: Did Legal Drugs Play a Role in the Massacre? Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/virginia-tech-aftermath-d_b_46280 Lyttle, L. (2012). School violence case study at Virginia Tech. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED532177.pdf Pettaway, T. (2022). Who is Salvador Ramos, and other questions about the Uvalde school shooting? Retrieved from https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/mass-shooting-Texas-school-17196305.php Schulte, B. & Jenkins, C. (2007). Cho didn’t get court-ordered treatment. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/06/AR2007050601403.html Shennan, R. (2022). Salvador Ramos: who was Texas school shooting gunman, how old was Uvalde shooter, did he kill his grandmother? Retrieved from https://www.nationalworld.com/news/world/salvador-ramos-who-texas-school-shooting-gunman-uvalde-shooter-kill-grandmother-3707899 https://www.independent.com/2014/06/03/trouble-ssris/
Sandy Hook School Shooting
On December 14th, 2012, Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut was the site of a mass murder (Scinto, 2012). Twenty children and six adults were killed by 20-year-old Adam Lanza (Scinto, 2012). Before he drove to the school he shot and killed his mother in their home, and after the shooting took place he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head (Scinto, 2012). He was dead shortly after police arrived on the scene. This particular event was selected because it was an extremely tragic event in U.S. history and the second deadliest mass shooting in American history committed by a single person. The shootings renewed the debate about gun control in the country, and new legislation was proposed because of it. Because of the seriousness and magnitude of the shooting, it is now a part of history and will forever be remembered. While it would…...
mlaReferences
Apuzzo, M., & Eaton-Robb, P. (2012). Adam Lanza, Newtown gunman, had hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/16/adam-lanza-newtown-gunman-rounds-of-ammuniiton_n_2313017.html
Scinto, R. (2012). Sandy Hook Elementary: Newtown, Connecticut shooting timeline. The Oakland Press.
Barron, J. (2012). Children were all shot multiple times with a semiautomatic, officials say. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/nyregion/gunman-kills-20-children-at-school-in-connecticut-28-dead-in-all.html?pagewanted=all
As a result, both handguns and long guns are available in many states, with more than half of American households owning one or more firearms.
This perpetual access to deadly weapons is the primary reason that completely eliminating school shootings may be impossible. Schoolyard bullying, low self-esteem, dysfunctional families and troubled teens who fantasize about lashing out violently will always be factors in the educational institution environment, despite continual efforts to address them. Access to firearms in combination with these contributing elements is the deadly mix that will likely continue to enable disaffected individuals to act out violent urges that would otherwise be manifested in less serious ways.
Publicity and the Copycat Phenomenon:
One of the well-known disadvantages of ratings-based media sensationalism is that certain individuals will emulate the violence they publicize, which has been documented in more than a few written testimonials of school shooting perpetrators as well as in interviews…...
mlaREFERENCES
Schwartz, Emma. The Right to Bear Arms; U.S. News & World Report (March 17, 2008) pp. 38-43.
USSS & USDOE (2002) Threat Assessment in Schools: A Guide to Managing Threatening Situations and to Creating Safe School Climates. Washington, DC. Retrieved April 11, 2008 at http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Sections/NEWS/PDFs/061002_School_Threat_Assessment.pdf
Should Guns Be Permitted on College Campuses?
The continued spate of school shootings indicates that more needs to be done to help protect people on campuses. While there is always a chorus of voices who proclaim that guns should be banned, the fact that the Constitution guarantees people the right to bear arms is one that has to be acknowledged. Considering that this right is important to many Americans, one solution is that teachers be allowed to carry guns so long as they pass background checks or have military training. This paper will show why guns should be permitted on college campuses, primarily for teachers who undergo thorough background checks or who have military backgrounds.
Arming teachers is not a novel idea or an unheard of one. In fact, as Shah points out, teachers are already being armed in several parts of the country in response to the escalated through of school…...
mlaWorks Cited
Breggin, Peter R. “Suicidality, violence and mania caused by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): A review and analysis.” International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine, vol. 16, no. 1 (2004): 31-49.Jenson, Jeffrey M. \\\\"Aggression and violence in the United States: Reflections on the Virginia Tech shootings.\\\\" Social Work Research 31.3 (2007): 131-134.Kauffman, Joel M. “Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs: More risks than benefits.” Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, vol. 14, no. 1 (2009): 7-12Shah, Nirvi. \\\\"Teachers Already Armed in Some Districts.\\\\" Education Week 32.21 (2013):1-14.Siebel, Brian J. \\\\"The Case against Guns on Campus.\\\\" Geo. Mason UCRLJ 18 (2007):319.Thompson, Amy, et al. \\\\"Reducing firearm-related violence on college campuses—Policechiefs\\\\' perceptions and practices.\\\\" Journal of American College Health 58.3 (2009): 247-254.
Why Teachers Should Not be Armed
Introduction
Often in recent years, school shootings have been followed by public, political debates about guns. One of the arguments from the pro-gun side is that teachers should be armed, in order to help prevent school shootings. Their argument is essentially that teachers are in position already, there in the school, and that they will have opportunities to stop a school shooter long before law enforcement can arrive on the scene and do the same. Their arguments, on the surface, do not sound unreasonable, but when examined more carefully, there are issues with these arguments. Arguments both for and against arming teachers have been examined, and the conclusion is that teachers should not be armed.
The Case for Arming Teachers
The case for arming teachers typically rests on the logic that teachers are in position in the schools, and therefore are a de facto first responder in the…...
mlaReferences
Education Week (2018) Should teachers carry guns? The debate, explained. Education Week. Retrieved April 28, 2019 from Fox 13 News Staff (2019) Arming teachers: A sheriff’s perspective. Fox 5. Retrieved April 28, 2019 from http://www.fox5ny.com/news/arming-teachers-sheriffs-perspectiveKirk, M. (2018) What research says about arming teachers. CityLab. Retrieved April 28, 2019 from https://www.citylab.com/life/2018/03/what-the-research-says-about-arming-teachers/555545/Newkirk, V. (2018) Arming educators violates the spirit of the second amendment. The Atlantic. Retrieved April 28, 2019 https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/the-absurdity-of-armed-educators/553961/Willis, J. (2019) When you give a teacher a gun. GQ.com. Retrieved April 28, 2019 from https://www.gq.com/story/when-you-give-a-teacher-a-gunhttps://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/arming-teachers.html
There is a lot of talk about school shootings and how to prevent them—especially in the wake of the most recent shooting in Florida, where 17 individuals lost their lives. Some say that guns should be banned (Ingraham). Others say the age limit should be raised (Epstein, Dopp) and that teachers should be armed (Rucker). Others view gun ownership as an unalienable right protected by the Constitution (Peck). And while guns themselves receive a lot of attention after such incidents, they are not the only factor. Family life, drug usage, and even other elements—such as the inability of federal and local law enforcement agents to act on tips to prevent a situation from worsening (Benner, Mazzei, Goldman; Brown). The fact of the matter is that there are many variables and factors involved in every school shooting, and no two cases are alike—so establishing a plan to prevent them is much…...
Parkland, Florida Shooting – Rampant Gun Violence in the Nation’s Schools
What started as a normal day for the teachers and students at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14, 2018, soon transformed into a scene of grisly mass murders and injuries perpetrated by 19-year-old high school student Nikolas Cruz. Unfortunately, this national tragedy was just another in a seemingly unending series of similar massacres of students and teachers in the nation’s schools in recent years and it galvanized the American public attention to the need for stricter gun control laws. Indeed, even as this paper was being written, two more students were shot to death at Central Michigan University by another 19-year-old, James Eric Davis Jr. who remains at large (Chicago-area teen suspected of fatally shooting two people at Central Michigan University, 2018). To determine the facts about the Parkland shootings, this paper reviews the relevant…...
School Shooting: Oxford High School ShootingSadly, many terrible school shootings have occurred in recent memory, to the point that they do not even always make much of an impression on the public consciousness. But the November 30, 2021 shooting at Oxford High School in Oakland County, Michiganwhich ended in four fatalities and the injuries of seven othersis noteworthy because of the currently ongoing civil lawsuit being waged by the survivors against the dean of students, principal, three of the teachers, and two of the counselors for not taking sufficient action to protect the student body against the accused student shooter Ethan Crumbley (Ley & Carr, 2022).The shooting began with Crumbley staging an attack in the bathroom and then followed with the alleged shooter attacking two girls in the hallway. The next victims included John Asciutto and Marco Vackaro, the former of whom was wounded, although both escaped (Ley & Carr,…...
mlaReferencesColthorp, J. & Carr, B. (2022, February 25). James, Jennifer Crumbley bound over for trial on manslaughter charges in Oxford case. Click On Detroit. S. & Carr, B. (2022, February 26). New lawsuit reveals chaotic moments during OxfordHigh School shooting. Click On Detroit. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/02/26/lawsuit-reveals-chaotic-moments-during-oxford-high-school-shooting/ Ley, S. & Clarke, K. (2022, February 6). Troubling texts emerge in hearing for parents of accused Oxford school shooter: ‘My son ruined so many lives today’ Click On Detroit. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/02/08/troubling-texts-emerge-in-hearing-for-parents-of-accused-oxford-school-shooter-my-son-ruined-so-many-lives-today/https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/02/25/james-and-jennifer-crumbley-are-bound-over-for-trial-on-manslaughter-charges/ Ley,
Several areas, if poorly designed, can lead to violent and criminal behavior, including parking lots, isolated spots on campus, locker rooms, and corridors. Often, violent behavior occurs in these areas when adults are not present (Astor, Meyer, and Behre, 1999, p. 3). Designing schools with more open areas, more planned classrooms, and a more defined perimeter can create a safer, less violent campus by creating a more functional and enjoyable educational experience. Thus, older, poorly designed schools often attract more violent behavior.
Location can also be a risk factor in certain schools, although that is not always the case. Another researcher notes, "Some urban schools are located [...] in slum neighborhoods where drug sellers routinely kill one another, as well as innocent bystanders, on the streets surrounding the school" (Toby, 1994, p.169). Children growing up in violence prone neighborhoods such as these may simply accept violence as a way of…...
mlaReferences
Astor, R.A. Meyer, H.A. And Behre, W.J. (1999). Unowned places and times: Maps and interviews about violence in high schools. American Educational Research Journal, Vol. 36, No. 1, 3-42.
Crowe, T.D. (1990). Designing safer schools. School Safety. 43-47.
Jenkins, P.H.(1997). School delinquency and the school social bond. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Vol. 34 No. 3, 337-367.
May, D.C. (September 1999). Scared kids, unattached kids, or peer pressure: Why do students carry firearms to school? Youth & Society, Vol. 31 No. 1, 100-127.
They predict age and gender variations relate to bullying concerns. Of the 25 cartoons implemented in the study, two depict characters with different shades of skin color where skin color appeared to be an issue. One cartoon relating to sexual orientation was not used in several countries. Smith et al. report Olweus to assert bullying to be characterized by the following three criteria:
1. It is aggressive behavior or intentional "harmdoing"
2. which carried out repeatedly and over time
3. In an interpersonal relationship characterized by an imbalance of power. (Smith et al., 2002, p. 1120)
In their study, Smith et al. (2002), participating researchers in the 14 countries to completed the following
1. Listed and selected bullying terms as well as social exclusion in the applicable language.
2. Used fundamental focus groups with participating children to confirm usage and extensive comprehensive of terms.
3. Using cartoons, sorted tasks to describe ways terms relating to bullying…...
mlaREFERENCES
Anti-Bullying programs for schools. (2009). NoBully.com. Retrieved March 3, 2010 from http://www.nobully.com/index.html
Beaty, L.A., & Alexeyev, E.B. (2008). The Problem of School Bullies: What the Research Tells Us. Adolescence, 43(169), 1+. Retrieved March 3, 2010, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5026476147
Beran, T.N., Tutty, L. & Steinrath, G. (2004). An evaluation of a bullying prevention program for elementary schools. Canadian Journal of School Psychology. Vol. 19, Iss. 1/2, p. 99
116 . Retrieved March 3, 2010 from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1188387401&Fmt=4&clientId=9269&RQT=30
A conceptual framework is a type of tool used to analyze a topic. Generally, in an academic context a conceptual framework is going to fall into one of several broad categories, including a working hypothesis, pillar questions, descriptive categories, models for decision making, or a formal hypothesis. Deciding what approach you want to take to your research topic of how women leaders respond in time of crises in the field of education will help you decide what approach you want to take, which will guide your development of a conceptual framework.
Based on....
Yes, there are several essay topics that can present opposing viewpoints on the issue of school shootings. Some possible topics include:
1. Gun control laws: Should stricter gun control laws be implemented to prevent school shootings, or does the right to bear arms outweigh the potential risks?
2. Mental health services: Should more resources be allocated to providing mental health services in schools to identify and address potential threats of school shootings, or is this an invasion of privacy and stigmatizing those with mental health issues?
3. School security measures: Should schools invest in increased security measures such as armed guards, metal detectors,....
Title: The Complex Issue of School Shootings: Examining Opposing Viewpoints
Introduction:
School shootings have become a prevalent and disturbing issue in our society, sparking intense debates and discussions among individuals, communities, and policymakers. This essay aims to present opposing viewpoints on this complex matter, exploring the arguments for and against various approaches to preventing and addressing school shootings.
Viewpoint 1: Stricter Gun Control and Mental Health Interventions
Advocates of stricter gun control measures argue that these policies can effectively reduce the number of school shootings by limiting access to firearms and ammunition. They emphasize the need for comprehensive background checks, waiting periods, and restrictions....
I. Introduction
A. Definition and significance of school shootings
B. Overview of recent school shooting incidents
II. Understanding the root causes of school shootings
A. Mental health issues
B. Access to firearms
C. Bullying and social alienation
D. Violent media and video games
III. Strategies for prevention
A. Increasing mental health support and resources in schools
B. Implementing stricter gun control measures
C. Promoting a positive and inclusive school culture
D. Enhancing security measures on school campuses
E. Educating students, teachers, and parents on warning signs and how to respond
IV. Case studies and success stories
A. Schools that have....
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