The Violence Continuum

Creating a Safe School Climate

By (author) Elizabeth C. Manvell

Not available to order

Publication date:

31 January 2012

Length of book:

184 pages

Publisher

R&L Education

ISBN-13: 9781610485685

We expect schools to be a safe haven, but after more than a decade of targeted school violence prevention laws and safety plans, students are still marginalized and bullied to the point of despondence, retaliation, and even suicide. This thoughtful exploration of what makes a school a safe place is based on the understanding that violence is a continuum of acts and attitudes–subtle to overt–that have a negative effect on how students feel and learn.
A school’s climate–how it feels to be a member of the learning community–depends on how each student is treated. We are challenged to recognize the often overlooked, yet pervasive, forms of emotional and physical violence that students face every day. After conducting an honest assessment of our own school’s climate, we learn how to nurture supportive relationships between students and adults and embed pro-social skills and respect for diversity in everything we do.When done, we are equipped with the understandings, tools, and commitment necessary to create a safe, positive school climate that is systemic and lasting.
"I have read 'The Violence Continuum' and it is excellent! I like the way the author does not back off from a humanistic commitment to the deepest issues of school safety, when so many in this field have a very narrow "police" approach to the issue. Like Manvell, I view these as "human rights" issues, which makes the school police officer a "human rights protection officer". This is a good piece of work, which I am pleased to promote."