1. 8 Ways to Prevent School
Violence in Schools
By
Melissa Winfield

2. Conflict Resolution
• One way to help prevent
violence in schools is through
the employment of conflict
resolution. Teaching students
how to resolve their conflicts
amicably is a useful skill in
school as well as in life. By
teaching students how to
effectively problem solve by
negotiating, mediating and
arbitrating, they will be better
equip to handle conflict using
their verbal skills rather than
through the use of physical
violence.

3. Dress Code
• Style of dress also can have a
big impact on school violence.
Dress can often symbolize
gang affiliation. It can also
lead to problems involving
sexual harassment including
ridicule that can lead to violent
behavior. Thus it is important
that schools, especially on the
secondary level, implement a
specific dress policy for
students. This is particularly
necessary during warmer
months of the year. Having a
dress code can prevent acts of
violence from ensuing.

4. Security Personnel
• Being prepared to handle
incidents of violent
behavior is a must.
Having personnel who
are specifically trained to
handle incidents of
violence can prevent any
situation that may arise
from escalating into an
even larger problem. It is
important that schools
employ security, hall and
lunch monitors, and
police officers to help
keep schools safe.

5. Student Photo Identification
System
• Knowing who is in the school
is also an important part of
preventing violence in schools.
Students as well as faculty
and staff should all be required
to wear ID cards. Having this
clear identification system can
help prevent intruders from
entering the building and
committing violent acts. This is
also a great resource to have
during after school functions
and events such as school
dances and sports events. ID
cards are a great security
measure to utilize, especially
in secondary settings.

6. Metal Detectors
• Gun violence in schools has also
been a rising problem over the
years. Problems with gangs,
mentally disturbed students and
adults have plagued news reports
over the past few decades. One
effective way to help prevent
students from bringing in
unauthorized objects in school is
to implement metal detectors.
Security would then be able to
confiscate any unauthorized
objects and students can be
disciplined accordingly. Although
they may be visually off putting,
mental detectors can ultimately
save lives. In severe cases, the
use of metal detectors is an
effective means of preventing
school violence.

7. Mentoring Programs
• As students progress through
various stages of development
their needs change. It is
important for students to be
able to receive guidance and
directions from adults that they
can look up to. Since students
come from various familial
structures, its important that
they have an adult that they
can trust and turn to for help or
guidance. Mentoring
programs are a great way for
students to have a positive role
model in their lives. Being
able to have someone positive
guide you is a great deterrent
for violent behavior.

8. Character Education
• Character education is a great
deterrent for preventing school
violence. Teaching kids how
to develop good character is a
great way to help them
develop into positive and
productive citizens. When
implemented correctly,
character education can have
a significant impact on the
culture and climate of a school
community. This can ultimately
help to reduce episodic
incidents of school violence in
school settings.

9. Staff Development
• Whenever instituting a new
program, it is essential that faculty
and staff receive the proper
training and support to effectively
implement the program. It is
essential that staff development
be given on the resources that are
available to help assist them in the
process. The establishment of a
positive school climate starts with
the morale of the staff. Thus, it is
important that the district
implements initiatives that
incorporate staff development to
address the needs of the faculty
when it comes to ensuring student
success and achievement.

10. Staff Development
• Whenever instituting a new
program, it is essential that faculty
and staff receive the proper
training and support to effectively
implement the program. It is
essential that staff development
be given on the resources that are
available to help assist them in the
process. The establishment of a
positive school climate starts with
the morale of the staff. Thus, it is
important that the district
implements initiatives that
incorporate staff development to
address the needs of the faculty
when it comes to ensuring student
success and achievement.