FREE ESSAY ON VIOLENCE

VIOLENCE

Sociology
Journal Article Analysis
Violence in high schools is present in many places in the school. A survey was taken by
five high schools. Both students and teachers were given maps to their schools and asked
to identify where and when the most violent events and most dangerous places in the
school were at. The participants, or the teachers and students were also asked to
identify the ages and sexes of the people who committed the violent acts and of the
people who they were committed against. Later the participants were questioned about why
they thought these were the most dangerous areas and why these certain types of people
committed the violent acts. The findings were that they mostly occurred in places such as
hallways, dining areas, and parking lots. All of these places are where authority figures
are not usually found. Also in the study they asked their opinions on security guards,
suspensions, and objects such as video cameras. The purpose of this survey was to see if
interventions should be made to heighten the sense of awareness between students and
teachers about these places where problems most occur. As I said before the methods used
to obtain this information was five surveys to five high schools. 
Since I have recently left the high school environment I believe that this study is one
of relative importance. In my younger years of high school, basically my freshman and
sophomore years, fights and violent acts occurred regularly. Usually around two a week.
And they usually occurred in the same places. Junior things had drastically changed. I
remember walking into school and going through a metal detector at the entrance of the
school. At first I was somewhat offended but did feel safer. And as the year went on I
noticed that fights were not occurring as much. I noticed that teachers were now standing
outside their classes in the halls at breaks between classes, police were in the parking
lots all the time and cameras were now at every corner. Although I felt like I was in a
prison I asked the principal later that year how many fights had occurred. Remarkably
finding that only three had occurred the entire year. I believe that this study relates
very closely with my school.
This article shows that by knowing where the dangerous areas are and improving student
relations improves the well being of the entire school. And that by placing cameras and
security guards at the designated, "dangerous areas", many violent acts can be prevented
if not stopped. I see a definite connection between this article and my high school.
Because the changes were made the school environment was a safer place. All because the
administration knew where the problems were occurring and how to stop them