The Impact of School Violence on Student Behavior
School violence can have adverse
effects on student behaviour. This includes both discipline and mental health
issues. While the relationship between exposure to school violence and
behavioural problems is unclear, studies indicate that self-regulation may play
a role.
Large Schools Tend To Yield More Discipline Problems than
Small Schools
If you're looking to get the most bangs
in the classroom, you'll be stumbling on the same old bang for your buck. It's
a given that some of the country's largest school districts have their share of
petty squabbles. Fortunately, a recent study by the Southern Poverty Law Center
suggests a lot of room for improvement. One suggestion to try and nudge the
stragglers along the right path is to ensure they're in the classroom on time.
You want to avoid stumbling on an
empty campus at 3 p.m. The study's recommendations also include enforcing rules
to ensure kids aren't truancy worthy. This isn't to say that smaller schools
don't have their fair share of ne'er do healthy students. The study found that
while students from low-income families are more likely to be on the receiving
end of discipline-related mischief, the difference isn't that significant.
Relationship between School-Related Function and Violence
Exposure
A growing body of literature has
documented a relationship between school-related function and violence
exposure. This association may be due to changes in the brain and other
physiological processes related to violence. In addition, it is essential to
recognize a broad spectrum of behavioural and emotional problems associated
with exposure to violence. Children who experience violence are at risk for
mental health and academic problems.
They often develop behavioural
disorders before they reach adulthood. During the early years, violence
exposure can cause neurological, cognitive, and language processing issues. The
development of these difficulties can be influenced by the child's age and the
severity of the incident. Children who have been exposed to violence exhibit
abnormalities in the white matter structure of the brain.
These abnormalities affect sensory
integration and learning. Some children also display deficits in executive
function, a type of cognitive control. Students living in neighbourhoods with a
high level of violent crime are less likely to transfer schools. Additionally,
students who experience school-related violence are at a greater risk of
developing physical and mental health problems.
Self-Regulation Is a Salient Mediator of Mental Health and
Academic Problems after Exposure to Violence
Behavioural and academic problems
in children exposed to school violence are often related to executive function
deficits. This deficit is also known as behavioural self-regulation. It is
central to the functioning of a classroom. Studies of the effects of exposure
to violence on the brain have shown abnormalities in the white matter
structure, including decreased cortical thickness. This can affect memory and
emotion processing.
Children with histories of violence
experience neurocognitive and language disorders, often in addition to learning
disabilities. These students may be removed from traditional classroom
settings. They are at a higher risk for cognitive and language problems and are
less likely to participate in social or normative learning situations. However,
no evidence supports the hypothesis that different types of violence can affect
students' learning styles.
Studies have found that youth
exposed to violence exhibit abnormalities in the structure and function of
their brains and that the severity of their exposure predicts mental health and
academic problems. In addition, studies of children exposed to a threat or
ambiguous situations show an increase in information processing biases that
result in over-identification of the case. Some have speculated that these
biases can provide a haven for children in dangerous environments.
Prevention Programs for At-Risk Youth
Several studies have shown that
prevention programs for at-risk youth in the context of school violence are
effective. These programs reduce risk factors and reduce individual rates of
offending. Some of the most effective interventions target families of
high-risk youth. These include Parent Training and Family Management
Strategies. They teach parents to monitor their children's behaviour and use
appropriate discipline.
This training also improves family
management practices and reduces overall delinquency. Another promising
approach is the Wraparound Milwaukee program. It is a program that provides
comprehensive services to youths, including parenting and adolescent
counselling, academic support, and social support. The results from these
programs show reductions in recidivism and arrests. Other strategies for
reducing youth violence include a school-level environmental approach.
This can consist of a reduction in
drug and alcohol use by students. Several studies have shown that these
approaches can reduce the rate of student drug use. Behavioural interventions
are the most effective in the general population. However, they may not be as
effective for seriously delinquent youth.
Author Bio
Tobin John is a research-based
content writer for Research Prospect. He provides ideas for dissertation
topics, dissertation ideas and many more services to students of all
levels, and their experts are all UK-qualified. Mr. Tobin holds a PhD
degree in mass communication. He loves to express his views on various issues,
including education, technology, and more.
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