Discussion of school violence compares possible causes of the school shootings in Colorado and Georgia with a prior analysis of possible causes of school shootings. Characteristics of these violent perpetrators are discussed as a possible guide to help identify these seemingly "invisible kids." Identification options include warning…

Describes how, despite a series of fatal fires on campuses a few years ago, state and federal proposals to require sprinklers or other safety features on campuses have gone nowhere. (EV)

The first trials, convictions and sentencings of the two men charged as the infamous "Beltway Snipers" are now part of history. John Allen Mohammed and Lee Boyd Malvo will face additional capital murder charges in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC, for the deaths of 10 men and women and the wounding of a school child and two adults along the…

In this article, the author stresses the dangers facing school leaders on the job. The school shooting at Campbell County Comprehensive High School in Jacksboro, Tennessee, on November 8, 2005, which left one assistant principal dead and the principal and another assistant principal seriously wounded, is an extreme example of dangers school…

In its 2003 report, School Survey on Crime and Safety, the National Center on Education Statistics (NCES) found that, during the 1999-2000 school year, 29% of schools reported having more difficulty with student bullying than with any other single discipline problem. A similar 2004 NCES report, Indicators of School Crime and Safety, found that, in…

In 2001, the California School for the Blind (CSB) was faced with a dilemma. The dropoff point for the day buses had to be changed. The new route to the only logical location for this change sent the buses through a driveway where residential students crossed to travel between the school and the dormitories. Some staff members wanted to eliminate…

Playgrounds traditionally have been found in both schools and parks in America. Each year, parent-teacher associations and school administrations, as well as park and recreation departments, spend millions of dollars to provide playground structures. However, since 1981, HPER professionals and the public have become increasingly aware that these…

One easy way to reduce the number of accidents in the lab is to go "green." Green chemistry, or sustainable chemistry, emerged about a decade ago, but the concept has been practiced for centuries by indigenous people of many continents. The basic principles of green chemistry are that you should use only what you need and recycle what you can.…

In order to effectively address the complex issue of school safety, school and community partnerships are being formed with greater frequency and intensity. Collaboration between educational, law enforcement, and mental health personnel is now widely considered to be the most effective means for addressing issues of school safety (Dryfoos, 1998;…

In the aftermath of several tragic incidents of school violence, school administrators began focusing more directly on crisis management. Those who actually had to activate their plans often discovered that communication--with the media and with the general community--was one of the most challenging tasks they faced. In an effort to determine if…

Objective: To explore the impact of the school climate on adolescents' reporting of sexual harassment. Design: A quantitative survey among students in their 4th year of secondary education. Setting: Questionnaires were completed in a class setting. Method: An a-select sampling strategy was used to select 2808 students in 22 schools. Results:…

In this article, the author shares a sexual harassment incident that happened to one of her friends at the high school cafeteria. At their school in Escambia County, Florida, there are no class discussions about sexual harassment. No assemblies or seminars. Just a little blurb in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook that is easy to…

With what seems like increasing frequency, secondary school administrators are being confronted with students' threats of violence. Unfortunately, some of the words that raise a red flag have now become part of the everyday language of many students, making it difficult to discern between the benign and the dangerous. Although all threats require…

This article explores the delicate and complex issues immediate to the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. The author places the discussion within the context of learning environments and presents ways in which pre-service and in-service teachers can help create safe and equitable spaces for all learners. Presented are…

This article reports reactions to the detention of a man in Iraq who possessed computer disks containing information about crisis planning, emergency procedures, and possibly even floor plans for several U.S. schools. The laws and issues surrounding restricted access to this information are discussed. Experts say that in most states, documents,…