Reports a study that examined the incidence of spearing between two high school football seasons, one before and one after a rule change banning spearing. Reviews of 18 game films of a New Jersey team from 1975 and 1990 indicated that, overall, the rule change did not have a favorable impact on the incidence of spearing. (SM)

Discusses how frequent communication between school administrators and construction managers can prevent construction calamities. How a construction committee works and the need for concentrating on safety issues are examined. (GR)

Although athletic events generate their share of negligence lawsuits, the relatively small number, compared with other education areas, suggests that defenses (like assumption or risk and contributory negligence) have a better fit in athletics. Implications of newer litigation trends involving coaches' misconduct and interpretation of state…

Discusses an interactive teaching tool, Teaching Anger Control through Teamwork (ACTT), which can be used in promoting character education and safe schools programs. The objectives of ACTT concern the process of anger control and teaching skills for getting along with peers. The tool uses creative and expressive arts as support techniques to…

Discusses key lessons in school landscape design. Landscapes should: (1) include trees and plants that themselves provide hands-on teaching opportunities; (2) enhance health and safety in a number of ways while performing their other functions; (3) be sensitively designed relative to location to cut energy costs; and (4) be aesthetic as well as…

This article introduces a special issue focusing on antisocial behavior in schools. It summarizes following articles on the prevention of violence and other antisocial behavior and concludes schools need to replace shortsighted, reactive approaches to student discipline with approaches that address the causes of antisocial behavior. (Contains…

Advises schools on how to establish an automated external defibrillator (AED) program. These laptop-size devices can save victims of sudden cardiac arrest by delivering an electrical shock to return the heartbeat to normal. Discusses establishing standards, developing a strategy, step-by-step advice towards establishing an AED program, and school…

Examines the relationship between rural students' perceived connection with school and their perception of safety, harassment, and empathy by gender and grade level. Finds positive relationship between school connection, perceived safety, and empathy and negative relationship between school connection and reported harassment. Finds differences in…

Explores the issues involved in conducting effective safety audits for educational facilities. Areas covered include auditing for site characteristics, access control, lighting, building exterior, door types and locking mechanisms, key control, alarm system controls, security monitors, and vision panels in the doors. (GR)

Aggressive and violent behaviors are increasing among today's students. Some children maintain consistently high levels of aggressiveness that affect them academically and socially. Abundant technology exists for assessment and intervention, and it should be used on a schoolwide basis as part of early intervention. The paper describes two types of…

Covers all the steps needed to light an open, non-traditional performance space--everything from where to locate lights, support towers, and power sources, to cable and dimmer requirements. Covers safety issues, equipment costs, what students should and should not be allowed to do, and how to deal with electricians and rental companies. (SC)

Most courts have flexibly interpreted the constitutional requirement of procedural and substantive due process in favor of zero-tolerance expulsion decisions. While being sensitive to community intolerance for threats to school safety (student possession of guns or drugs), school leaders should modulate development and enforcement of expulsion…

Places school shootings in perspective relative to other risks of violence children face, discussing the characteristics of adolescent violence and the process of identifying adolescents at risk, noting how to recast the problem as risk management, and examining the need to focus on the development of a positive and supportive organizational…

American crime and violence have overflowed onto the college/university campus, and are now affecting senior high, junior high and elementary schools. This research presents suggested causes of school crime and also suggests possible solutions. In most urban environments, crime is a "way of life." When assessing the family incomes of…

It is absolutely critical that high school games be organized in the safest way possible--both for the students, the staff who are directly involved and for all the spectators who watch these games. School officials have become vigilant with safety measures as a string of violent incidents has occurred in several school athletic events across the…