Chapter 8

A Brief History of American Education

• Education in the nineteenth century as an instrument of social control.

  • Aimed at solving problems such as crime, poverty, and immigration.

• Chaotic and violent school environments commonplace during this period.

  • Teachers struggled with unruly children using both novel and brutal methods.

• School relationships and experiences are highly predictive of delinquency.

Major Issues American Schools Have Faced

• Schools faced various challenges through different historical periods, shaped by sociopolitical changes.

School Crime

• School crime is a significant concern in junior and senior high schools nationwide.

  • Manifestations include vandalism, violence, drug trafficking, and gang activity.

Findings from Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2022 Report (1 of 3)

• Violent Deaths: Between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, there were 39 school-associated violent deaths (29 homicides, 10 suicides).

• School Shootings: 93 incidents with casualties during the 2020–2021 school year (50 deaths, 43 injuries).

• Nonfatal Victimization: In 2020, students aged 12-18 experienced 285,400 nonfatal crimes at school; compared to 749,400 nonfatal crimes in 2016.

Findings from Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2022 Report (2 of 3)

• Teacher Victimization: 11% of elementary teachers reported being threatened by students compared to 9% of secondary teachers.

• School Environment: 77% of public schools recorded crime incidents in 2019-2020; 22% reported bullying occurrences.

Findings from Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2022 Report (3 of 3)

• Cyberbullying: 16% of students (ages 12-18) reported being cyberbullied during the school year.

• The percentage of students afraid of attack at school decreased from 12% (1995) to 3% (2015), but rose to 5% in 2019.

School Shootings

• Defined as incidents where a gun is used on school property.

  • Includes gang-related, domestic shootings, and situations irrespective of school sessions.

Vandalism and Violence

• Creating a safe learning atmosphere is crucial, yet many schools resemble prisons due to security measures.

  • Despite perceptions, schools may be safer than other environments for children.

School Bullying (1 of 2)

• Definition: Bullying involves intimidating behaviors to gain compliance and instill fear in weaker individuals.

  • Behaviors may be direct (e.g., teasing, hitting) or indirect (e.g., social isolation).

School Bullying (2 of 2)

• Victims of bullying might retaliate by bullying others.

• Patterns of physical bullying peak in middle school; verbal bullying remains constant.

Cyberbullying

• Involving technology for harassment; can result in lasting psychological effects.

  • May lead to severe outcomes like depression and suicide.

Bullying and Suicide

• Suicide ranks among the leading causes of death for children under 14 years.

  • "Bullycide" refers to suicide that results from bullying, with LGBTQ+ teens at higher risk.

Bullying

• Revenge for bullying is a significant motivation behind school shootings.

• Students with disabilities are more likely to be labeled as bullies or victims.

• Black youths often underreport their experiences as bullying victims.

Bullying Fact Sheet (1 of 3)

• Definition: Unwanted aggressive behavior typically characterized by a power imbalance.

  • May include physical, verbal, or social aggression.

  • Bullying can be perpetrated through electronic means (cyberbullying).

Bullying Fact Sheet (2 of 3)

• Risk factors for engaging in or experiencing bullying include:

  • For bullies: Deviant behaviors, harsh parenting, acceptance of violence.

  • For victims: Poor peer relationships, low self-esteem, perceived differences.

Bullying Fact Sheet (3 of 3)

• Prevention Strategies: Aim to stop bullying before it begins.

  • Implement school rules, whole school anti-bullying policies, and promote cooperation among staff and parents.

Delinquency and School Failure

• Factors linked to delinquency include:

  • Low academic performance, low social status, and dropping out.

Theoretical Perspectives on School and Delinquency

• Schools often identified as factors contributing to delinquent behavior through various theories.

Theoretical Perspectives on School and Delinquency (1 of 2)

• Blocked Opportunity Theory: Poor performing students are likely to commit delinquent acts.

• Strain Theory: Schools reflect community characteristics; lower-class children feel status frustration.

• Cultural Deviance Theory: High-crime area schools increase delinquent peer associations.

• Social Control Theory: Schools facilitate bonding; weak bonds may lead to delinquency.

Theoretical Perspectives on School and Delinquency (2 of 2)

• Labeling Theory: Deviant labels influence students to adopt deviant roles.

• Radical Criminology: Schools maintain power dynamics favoring privileged classes.

• General Theory of Crime: Self-control influences delinquent behaviors.

• Interactional Theory: Delinquency weakens familial and school bonds, leading to increased delinquency.

School Students' Rights

• Schools derive authority from:

  • In Loco Parentis: Guardian-like authority.

  • State-enabling statutes: Grant local boards the power to enforce rules.

Summary of Landmark Cases and Students' Rights (1 of 3)

• Dixon v. Alabama State Board of Education (1961): Ensured due process in student expulsion cases.

• Tinker v. Des Moines (1969): Protected students' right to free speech regarding political expression.

• Bethel School District v. Fraser (1986): Upheld punishment for lewd speech undermining education.

Summary of Landmark Cases and Students' Rights (2 of 3)

• West Virginia Board v. Barnette (1943): Protected children's religious rights in flag salutation.

• Yoo v. Moynihan (1969): Recognized privacy rights in a student's hair styling.

• New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985): Allowed school searches with reasonable suspicion of rule violations.

Summary of Landmark Cases and Students' Rights (3 of 3)

• Vernonia School District v. Acton (1995): Approved random drug testing for student athletes.

• Board of Education v. Earls (2002): Upheld drug testing for students involved in extracurricular activities.

School Discipline

• Schools must maintain a safe environment for effective learning; discipline measures may include:

  • Security protocols, corporal punishment, out-of-school suspensions, expulsions.

Factors Involved in Dropping Out of School (1 of 2)

• High school dropout rates are critical; about 5 million young adults lack diplomas.

  • Common causes include academic failure, disinterest, behavioral issues, and life events.

Factors Involved in Dropping Out of School (2 of 2)

• Dropouts earn significantly less over their lifetimes compared to graduates; many end up reliant on welfare or in the criminal justice system.

Intervention Strategies to Improve Schools

• Key strategies include:

  • Mentoring programs, school-community relationship improvements, and violence-prevention initiatives.

Reduction of the Crime-Control Model in Public Schools

• Despite declining delinquency, increased formal social control has emerged over the past two decades, leading to harsher discipline practices.

The Role of the School Resource Officer

• Essential figures in managing school discipline and enhancing safety.