Students

There are steps kids can take to help stop the violence. The following list, provided by the National Crime Prevention Council, is a good starter on what kids can do:

• Refuse to bring a weapon to school, refuse to carry a weapon for another, and refuse to keep silent about those who carry weapons.
• Report any crime immediately to school authorities or police. Report suspicious or worrisome behavior or talk by other students to a teacher or counselor at your school.
• Learn how to manage your own anger effectively. Find ways to settle arguments by talking it out, working it out, or walking away rather than fighting.
• Become a peer counselor, working with classmates who need support and help with problems.
• Mentor a younger student. As a role model and friend, you can make it easier for a younger person to adjust to school and ask for help.
• Ask for student activities and clubs to adopt an anti-violence theme. Welcome new students and help them feel at home in your school. Introduce them to other students. Get to know at least one student unfamiliar to you each week.
• Participate in anti-violence programs within your school and community.
• Learn safe routes for walking in the neighborhood and know good places to seek help. Never go anywhere with someone you don’t know and trust.
• Trust your feelings and if there’s a sense of danger, get away fast.

Families

Tips for families in combating violence:

• Start early to teach children respect, responsibility, right and wrong.
• Know and respect school rules such as dress codes and be consistent at home and school.
• Don’t allow children to have dangerous weapons. Never permit children to take weapons, including toy guns, to school.
• Direct children toward wholesome activities out of school, like clubs, music, sports, religious and community activities.
• Know your children’s friends, their parents, and their teachers. Attend school programs and events together.
• Eliminate or limit violence in children’s everyday life, such as violent video games, TV programs, music and movies.
• Accept responsibility for your children. Know where they are and what they are doing, especially after school. Say "no" and expect children to accept it without acting out violently.

Source: National Association of Elementary School Principals. Article as printed in The Reno Gazette Journal.


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