Philosophy :: Violence Prevention

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Violence prevention includes the promotion of school safety, such that students and school personnel are free from violent and disruptive acts, including sexual harassment and abuse, and victimization associated with prejudice and intolerance, on school premises, going to and from school, and at school-sponsored activities, through the creation and maintenance of a school environment that is free of weapons and fosters individual responsibility and respect for the rights of others. [Ref. Public Law 103-382, Sec. 4131 (2)(C)]

The Center for Disease Control-Prevention (CDC-P) states that "violence is the threatened or actual use of physical force or power against another person, against oneself, against a group or community which either results in, or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death or deprivation." Many lessons in the DRUG AND VIOLENCE EDUCATION prevention resource guide use the following definition that focuses more on the precursors to the CDC-P definition: Violence is any mean word, look, sign or act that hurts a person's body, dignity or things. (Respect & Protect, Johnson Institute, Minneapolis, MN) Lesson activities based on this definition focus students on addressing their own behavior at the earliest stages of the violence continuum.