Crime in the Schools Using Student Problem Solving to Reduce Fear and Disorder

Schools are the primary means by which society transmits skills, values, and concepts about self to youth. Without a safe and secure environment, it becomes virtually impossible for students to learn. This book reports on one project to change the atmosphere of fear in a high school. Eleventh grade students were taught the SARA (Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment) model of problem solving. Students took on the primary responsibility of addressing problems of fear and disorder; teachers acted as facilitators and resources along with the police resource officer. Implemented in the 1993-94 school year, the program described not only reduced crime but taught students valuable skills for life. Chapters include (1) "Crime in Our Schools"; (2) "The Police Response to School Crime"; (3) "The Charlotte School Safety Program"; (4) "Evaluating the Impact: The Research Design"; (5) "Constructing a Problem-Solving Model for Schools"; (6) "Effecting Change for School Safety"; (7) "What Works? Measuring the Impact on Students"; (8) "What Works? Crime, Fear and Teacher Satisfaction"; (9) "Comparing the Options: Modeling Responses to School Crime and Disorder." Presentations from the principal and the police resource officer to the junior class are appended along with information about the Police Executive Research Forum. (EMK)