John Hunter: Teaching with the World Peace Game -- a TED Talk by a 4th grade teacher, John Hunter, about an incredible role play project he uses with his students to develop skills of critical analysis, reasoning, emotional intelligence, and much more. A very inspiring video and an amazing teacher and man!
Education Week Coverage of School Violence and Safety Issues -- go to the home page and search using school violence and other related terms.
Dear Colleague Letter Sent by U.S. Dept. of Education and Office of Civil Rights -- In October of 2010, the U.S. Department of Education and Office of Civil Rights sent a letter to all public schools in the country clearly stating that educators may be held liable, under U.S. civil rights law, if they fail to address bullying/harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. The letter said, “The statutes that OCR enforces include Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504); and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II). Section 504 and Title II prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. School districts may violate these civil rights statutes and the Department’s implementing regulations when peer harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability is sufficiently serious that it creates a hostile environment and such harassment is encouraged, tolerated, not adequately addressed, or ignored by school employees."
The Final Report and Findings of the Safe School Initiative: Implications for the Prevention of School Attacks in the United States -- a 2002 report by a panel sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Education and the U.S. Secret service.
Threat Assessment in Schools: A Guide to Managing Threatening Situations and to Creating Safe School Climates -- a follow-up report by the Safe School Initiative, sponsored by the Dept. of Education and the U.S. Secret Service.
Are Zero Tolerance Policies Effective in the Schools? -- a review of the research and recommendations for school practice -- a study conducted by a task force formed by the American Psychological Association.
"It's a Fork, It's a Spoon, It's a ... Weapon -- a 2009 NYTimes article about a 6 year old boy who was suspended from school for bringing to school a camping utensil that included a spoon, fork, and knife. He had just joined the Cub Scouts and wanted to try the utensil at lunch.
Zero Tolerance Policies: An Issue Brief -- a summary review of history, research, and recommendations, prepared by the Virginia Board of Education.
Largest Ever Study of Anti-LGBT Harassment in Schools Shows the Problem is Widespread, Dangerous and Preventable -- "Despite an anti-harassment law that took effect four years ago this month, harassment and bullying based on sexual orientation remain persistent and pervasive in California schools. 7.5% of California’s middle and high school students, more than 200,000 students every year, are targets of harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, according to a study released by the California Safe Schools Coalition. The Safe Place to Learn study found that widespread bullying has dangerous academic, health and safety consequences for students."
California Safe Schools Coalition -- Various research briefs documenting discrimination and harassment on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in California schools.
GSA Network -- Empowering youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools.
They Don't Even Know Me: Understanding Anti-Gay Harassment and Violence in School -- a powerful report about the physical and emotional abuse associated with anti-gay violence in schools.
U.S. Department of Education Letter to Schools and Educators about Bullying -- a statement that educators have a responsibility to address bullying in accordance with federal civil rights law, and if they fail to do this, they can be held liable in a court of law.
Cruel Kids, Tragic Ends -- ABC news video that tells a true story about a student who was bullied and harassed so much that he saw suicide as his only way out.
The Secrets a Teen Carried Nearly Killed Her... -- a very powerful and brave video made by a young woman who was bullied.
Cyberbullying: The New Online Crime -- a good, brief, clear, overview article that includes many useful links.
The Cyberbullying Research Center -- an organization "dedicated to providing up-to-date information about the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyberbullying among adolescents. Cyberbullying can be defined as 'willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.'"
Cyber Bullying and Young People: Treatment Principles Not Simplistic Advice -- This article gives a broad overview of the problem of cyber bullying: what it is, the consequences of letting it continue, and advice on how to work with victims of cyber bullying and parents.
Cyber Bullying: Always On? Always Aware! -- This website is a comprehensive resource on the issue of cyber bullying. It lists the various electronic mediums through which bullying may occur, gives suggestions for prevention, and provides warning signs for possible victims.
No Bully -- a website about bullying and anti-bullying, created by an organization whose purpose is to make school a place where every student feels included by their peers and accepted for who they are.
STOP Cyberbullying -- This website provides resources for students, teachers, and care givers.
Time Line of Worldwide School Shootings -- an article containing a list of worldwide school shootings that occurred from 1996 to the present.
Preventing School Shootings: A Summary of a U.S. Secret Service Safe School Initiative Report -- an article summarizing the USSS Safe School Initiative report on school violence.
Preparing Teachers for Conflict Resolution in Schools -- an article designed to introduce teachers to the idea of the technique of Progressive Conflict Resolution.
Conflict Resolution Education: Four Approaches -- an article designed to instruct teachers on the four most common (and most effective) forms of in-classroom conflict mediation: Process Curriculum, Mediation Programs, Peaceable Classrooms, and Peaceable Schools.
Teaching Students to Be Peer Mediators -- While traditional discipline procedures teach students to depend on authority figures to resolve conflicts, the Peacemaker Program teaches children how to mediate disputes and negotiate solutions themselves.
Decreasing Violence Through Conflict Resolution Education in Schools -- an article that explains the dangers of “zero tolerance” policies, and the virtues of spending the time to educate your students on proper resolution techniques.
National Association Of School Psychologists Center -- information on how zero tolerance affects students with special needs, and how that can affect the implementation of a multicultural learning environment.
Chicago Targets Youth Violence After Deadly Brawl -- listen to a radio segment about (2009) youth violence and deaths in Chicago related to gangs, the closing of some schools and the transporting of students to other schools/neighborhoods far away, and more -- shows how youth violence is linked to the debate over charter schools, school funding inequalities, and other major issues in education.
Mendez Foundation Education Center -- provides a framework for peaceable classrooms K-12 -- includes information about conflict resolution, anger management, respect for self and others, and effective communication.
Breaking Down Barriers -- a report on a high school program in Michigan that successfully brought students together across racial and other social and cultural divisions
Can Emotional Intelligence Be Taught? -- NY Times article on Social Emotional Learning "Should social-emotional learning prove successful...it could generate a string of benefits that far exceeds a mere bump in test scores."
The Mind and Life Institute -- an international organization that is working to develop a "scientific understanding of how to cultivate a mind of compassion and wisdom" -- includes multidisciplinary research and educational programs about the value and benefits of "contemplative practice" (e.g., meditation) and other activities that can help create an ethic of care and concern for others and all.
S.A.V.E (Students Against Violence Everywhere) -- a student-initiated program that promotes nonviolence within schools and communities.
Conflict Resolution Network -- an organization that has as its vision, "to create a conflict-resolving community."
Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 567, School Violence: What is School Violence? An Integrated Definition -- an online journal that addresses the failure of schools to address the wider context of school violence, and casual effects arising from the confluence of various forces.
Peabody Journal of Education: Peace Education in an Urban School District in the United States -- an article about using the insights of peace education through school based conflict management, environmental education, global studies, multicultural awareness, peer mediation, and violence prevention.
The Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence -- lots of useful data and prevention strategies.
National Crime Prevention Council -- an emphasis on maintaining "civic health" -- ideas about how parents, students, teachers, administrators, law enforcement, and community members can work together to limit school violence -- also includes links to other good sites.
Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science: School Violence: Gangs and a Culture of Fear -- an online journal about violence in schools, school structure, gang activity as it pertains to students and solutions to the growing gang problem.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: A Comprehensive Response America's Youth Gang Problem -- a fact sheet on comprehensive ways to solve America's youth gang problem.
Character Education: Free Resources, Materials, Lesson Plans -- a website that includes teaching guides, lesson plans and links to other resources on character education. Also provides information on service learning and character education in sports.
Youth As Resources -- a community based program in Baltimore that provides small grants to young people to design and carry out service projects.
Researchers Target Impact of Television Violence -- an article about recent research concerning the effects of violence on TV -- it reports that from 1998 to 2002 violence seen during the 8 p.m. family hour increased 41 percent.
Bullying in the US: Rates, Tips, and Resources -- From the US Insurance Agents website, this page offers some concise information on bullying, making it a good jumping-off point for research on the subject.
8 Tips for Protecting Children and Teens Online -- Short guide for parents, caregivers, and educators detailing easy ways to implement safe and secure internet usage.
Wristband Resources -- Wristband Resources is a website dedicated to raising awareness about bullying and the harmful effects it can have on individuals. Located at the bottom of the webpage is a rich collection of online and PDF resources on types of bullying, prevention methods, and statistics.
Gun Violence and Student Safety -- this website provides statistics and information regarding the safety of our schools and resources for educators. The resource also provides questions for teachers and school administrators to ask about gun violence and safety in the school.
Cyberbullying: How to Identify, Resources to Help, and Innovative Solutions for the Future -- This guide provides a detailed overview of cyberbullying and suggests some strategies to help combat it.