Everyday School Violence

The book aims to discuss the issue of small-scale school violence. While school shootings and safety are of the utmost concern among teachers, students, parents, and the public, many children suffer the effects of everyday violence that affect the learning environment and the sense of safety in schools. Such violence can include bullying, threats, fistfights, theft, weapon-carrying, and more. It offers an overview of aggression and violence, including its theoretical causes and presentations, especially in the context of development and schools. It also outlines the effects of violence on schools and students. The publication is particularly unique in that it will encourage the reader to “slow down the violence” and evaluate it frame-by-frame. This technique, used by the author in consultation, has been effective in preparing school employees to address issues of violence, encouraging them to evaluate their own willingness to intervene, and identifying their own strengths and limitations. By insisting that they have a plan of action, the hope is that they will be better prepared when faced with student conflict, even in the absence of a school plan. Finally, the book discusses basic program design and implementation practices to assist school administrators and professionals to create a tailored program to specifically address their own schools’ needs.

Anyone who has been in an unsafe environment knows how the senses are overwhelmed with fear. Deep learning in a constant state of unrest is impossible; you can only function in survivor mode. Dr. Daly provides proactive, rather than reactive, approaches to address the violent related causes that negatively affect safety and learning in schools. As a “New Principal” mentor I plan to use this book for study with my residents so that they can “Invent” a safe future for their school., Smart school leaders will recognize the practical advice that Dr. Daly offers towards reducing violence in schools. She challenges educators to do the hard work of getting to know the students in front of them beyond academic performance, of understanding why those students may become violent in school, and to seek research based approaches to mitigate future instances. Dr. Daly offers a suite of accessible approaches to ending everyday school violence that is accessible to educators at all levels.  Incorporating her work into school policy and practice is essential

Sarah E. Daly, Ph.D. is an assistant professor at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. A former Spanish teacher and counselor, her primary research area is school violence and mass shootings.