Thanks to the COM352 students for contributing a bunch of new pages! I'll be moving these pages into the main area of the wiki soon.

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Conversation on School Violence:
Students “Take Out Their Pencils” on two articles

"The School in School Violence: Definitions and Facts" by Michael Furlong & Gale Morrison and “Supremacy Crimes” by Gloria Steinem in The Text-Wrestling Book, Donna LeCourt, Editor (2005).

(This activity is taken from the UMass English Department Teaching Wiki. It is originally credited to Peggy Woods. Retrieved from <http://www.umasswiki.com/wiki/Class:Section_71_-_ENG_112_-_Spring_2007/Day_16/Take_Out_Your_Pencils/Steinem_Summary_Page>)

SAYBACK—Alongside different paragraphs, summarize in your own words just what the writer is saying--not what the writer means, but what she is SAYING.

Psychologists and Psychiatrists are more interested in youth violence rather than school violence. But youth violence happens to occur often in schools (page 378). Males are much more aggressive than women. They are much more likely to carry weapons or get into physical fights (page 387). Classrooms are the most popular place for fights in school, and the cafeteria is the least popular place (page 393). Jessica

"School violence" has only recently received attention and concern. "Citations in the PsychINFO computer database with title or keyword references to school violence were infrequent in the 1960s, grew slowly through the 1980s, and have increased exponentially in the 1900s." (p. 377) The problem of "school violence" can initially be solved if it is defined clearly and accurately. School violence not only occurs in schools, but also stems from the environment and communities surrounding the youth. "Getting educators to own their part in preventing school violence may depend on our ability to define and describe the "schools" as an organizational and institutional entity plays in violence occuring on school campuses." (p. 380) Educators and school adminstrators should enforce lesson-plans that could prevent the youth from enabling violence. "Owning school violence as an educational problem also allows the problem of violence to become a topic worthy of classroom and school attention." (p. 382) Annerrs

Author is saying that the examples described in this paragraph prove that white, rich account for almost all the serial killings in the US. This is her original thesis, and this paragraph backs up the thesis by giving us many specific examples (Pg. 401, para. 3). The author is saying that the fact that the killers in Columbine were white gave people a certain perception of them. If they would've been black, people, and the media, would have perceived the incident differently, and brought up completely different issues (Pg. 403, paragraph 3). The author says that educators need to take responsibility for the problem of school violence to understand it, and face it (Pg. 383, paragraph 2). Andy

"It was not until 1992..." (p. 376-377). Before this point in time the country wasn't aware, at all, of anything to do with school violence. The author is trying to push the point across that either we, as a society, have been oblivious to it, or (more likely) that we, as a society, are responsible for it.

"By adopting educational ownership..." (p. 383).This article was more or less the facts about school violence. This paragraph dealt with the fact that school violence is basically something that has to now be planned into the way teachers go about doing their job. It's absolutely absurd to think that it is something that has to be dealt with on a day to day basis. It is said to be part of the "educational mission of the school", which is not the way that the educational system in this country should be run at all!

"Nonetheless, the proportion...” ( p. 403). She is giving insight into the fact that America does not realize the extreme difference in amount of women to men that commit these murders. She is saying that nobody stops to think that every time they turn on the television it is a male that is committing the crime. However, at the same time, she is reinforcing her point that women are, in fact, very capable of committing the same. Atshekleton

"Gun ownership is known to be much higher among youth who have a history of deliquency, gang membership,..." (p.392). The author is pointing out what type of people mostly students that may involve in a shooting. Anyone carrying guns, or that had been in a gang might be and are dangerous. "Researchers are beginning to extend knowledge about the factors associated with school violence..." (p.393). Furlong and Morrison basically said that anything that a person such as a student (they are the main groups/audience for this article) turned out to be in life has to with whoever they grow up with/around like friends, family, neighbors,their environments etc... "Direct comparison between communities is not advised because of the use of dissimilar methodologies, sampling procedures, and response..." (p.389).Tells us that a student regardless of age that would most likely bring/carry a gun to school as a matter fact do carry a gun on them when walking in their neighborhoods as a way of protecting themselves. Phane88

"Females do not engage in dangerous physical behaviors as often as males, but they act in socially agressive ways more often than males" (pg 387). "Research examining bullying behavior shows that this form of violence is most frequent among upper-elementary-age students." (pg 387). "... African American students report slightly higher rates and Hispanic students slightly lower rates of violence victimization." (pg 388). Esco

"But it is truly remarkable, given the relative reasons for injustice in this country, that white, non-poor men have a near monopoly on multiple killings of strangers..." (402). It is my opinion that this is not remarkable because these are the kinds of kids who have crappy parents. "I think...superiority" (403-404). This is a much better focus for the author, it makes more sense to have the nation focus on parenting white males who assume they will have advantages. "Surprising...school campuses" (389). Wow, I thought the media had all possible "bad news reporting" scenarios covered. John?

“…the task of researchers…” (379). We need to focus on what leads up to violent behavior, how to prevent it, and when it does happen reduce the impact it has. “The lack of clarity…” (380). There is no clear definition of school or violence. “It is our assertion…” (385). To fix the problem we need to understand where the problem originates. Dave

Violence is taking an increasing toll on American society generally, and on children and adolescents specifically, who are the victims of more crimes than any other age group in the United States (376).

Males are much more likely than females to be physically aggressive at school and to be the victim of attacks (387). Every major study about youth weapon possession has found that youth carry weapons more frequently outside of school than at school (390). Dan

POINTING—When you come across something that stands out to you, note in the margin WHY it stands out. Is it something you observed, does it remind you of something you’ve experienced, something else you’ve read?

In high school, when girls fought it was always with words, while boys always used fists (page 387). Reminded me of the recent shootings at Virgina Tech (page 389). A girl I went to school with carried mase around with her because she doesn't trust people (page 389). Jessica

Nice setup/intro to the whole clarification of "historical and definitional roots of school violence" by pointing out National Education Goal 7. "It is important to promote the rights, welfare, education, and health of children and youth by supporting National Goal 7..." (p. 376).

This article targets educators to do something more to prevent and reduce school violence. But what about the parents/guardians? Shouldn't they be teaching their own children about morals and values? "...the school as an organization can mount, through effective practices, a certain wall of protection." (p. 381).

Of the fights that did occur in high school, both females and males engaged in physical fighting as well as verbal abuse. I wouldn't say that the males in my school were the only ones who fought physically because I remember there were times when the females would fight, give each other bloody noses, and/or pull each other's weaves out. "For example, females do not engage in dangerous physical behaviors as often as males..." (p. 387). Annerrs

"It's our sons-and ‘our’ can usually be read as ‘white,’ middle class,’ and ‘heterosexual’" (Pg. 401). This jumped out at me for two reasons. One, I wasn't sure why white, middle class, and heterosexual, were in quotes. They seem unnecessary. Also, heterosexual seems less related to me than race and class.

"Even if one believes in a biogenetic component of male aggression, the very existence of gentle men proves that socialization can override it" (pg. 402). Seemed kind of intense. I'm not sure if I agree about male aggresivism being such a big problem, and also, I consider myself a gentle man, and I don't think I've instituted much social change recently.

"Nonetheless, the proportion of serial killings that are not committed by white males is about the same as the proportion of anorexics who are not female" (Pg. 403). This stat just struck me. I wish that she would have also given the percentage number of this, because I've always assumed that it would be up to 90% of people with anorexia were women, but I could be wrong. Perhaps she's hoping that most readers make the same assumption I did, when it actually may be not that striking, if, say, only 65% of people with anorexia were women. Andy

"By adopting educational ownership..." (p. 383). I guess this particular paragraph really stood out for me because I found, like I mentioned, it completely ridiculous that this is what our country is coming to. We now have to live in constant fear that somebody is going to come into our classrooms and kill everybody. I don't even know what to say about how I feel about the whole situation. Just thinking about it gets me really angry.

"I don't know about you..." (p. 401). I found this to be very interesting because last week I was just talking to my friends about how it is always some white kid who is "troubled" that does the shootings. I actually realized the same thing this article is saying, which is why I found it very interesting to read.

"Nor is this about..." (p. 402). Another part of what gets me upset involving school shootings is exactly what she is saying in this article. It is all about supremacy. People kill because they can, and they feel the need to be dominant over another. I honestly do not care at all what their past was and if it led up to them committing the murder; I do, however, care that people do these things and are going to keep doing it and that there is very little that can be done to stop it. Atshekleton

"Even more alarming is that only 3% of these gun-carrying students believed that an apology was an effective way to avoid fighting, which compares to 60% for non-guntoting students" (p.391-392). The most shocking thing about this quote is the statistics giving to us and how only 3% percent gun carriers would accept an apology and hold their fire.

"It's the impossible expectation of dominance to which they've become addicted" (p.402). It is very sad to see what those people would do for power and fear over others.

"... Waneta Hoyt, the upstate New York woman who strangled her five infant children between..." (p.402). So far this is one of the most sad killings that striked me. Who wouldn't be when learning about a mother who killed her own flesh and blood. Hoyt did the unthinkable crime and for a mother of five little kids, she was cold. Phane88

When a girl had a problem with another girl words would be exchanged beforehand, unlike males, where fists would be exchanged before words (pg 387). Bullies develop at this age because they realize that they are bigger that the students under them causing them to develop a sense of senority over the younger ones (pg 387). African Americans have always been looked at as suspiscious, so anyone's first assumption of victimization qould be towards an African American before a Hispanic (pg 388). Esco

“Males are Most involved in School Violence” (387). 85 homicides on school campuses between ’94-’96 (389). “12.4% of adolescents report carting a weapon anywhere in the past 30 days” (389). Dave

Students bring guns to school for protection (391). Gang affiliation is associated with gun possession (390). 84% of youth said they had a justified reason for their violence (394). John?

Most of the information in the first essay is obvious. I don't need a professional study to know guys fight more than girls or that students involved with gangs are more likely to bring weapons. The first essay is factual, the second essay, though full of facts is loaded with a lot more power words like slaughter and "hooked on the drug of superiority" (401). I disagree completely that it is a supremacy crime. Dan

ALMOST SAYBACK—You can also make notes about what the writer almost says or tries to say—here you’ll be making an inference. Sometime you’ll be making inferences the author wants you to make, and sometimes they will be inferences the author hopes you won’t make.

Kids who do drugs and drink alcohol are more aggressive (page 388). Adults do not know how to control/stop fights (page 394). Media is partly to blame for the campus murders. They portray these killers as being famous and superior (page 401). Jessica

Educators and school administrators should "own" the problem of school violence. "By adopting educational ownership of school violence, it becomes legitimate to consider the issue within the everyday management of schooling tasks" (p. 383).

Surveys given to youth in schools should be more specific so that results could be narrowed down. "Thus, much of what is known and inferred from school violence incidence databases is based on responses to single items with untested properties" (p. 386).

A majority of crimes are committed by white, middle class, heterosexual males. The reason is because of their feelings of superiority. "It's a drug pushed by a male-dominant culture that presents dominance as a natural right..." (p. 401). Annerrs

"We know that hate crimes, violent and otherwise, are overwhelmingly committed by white men who are apparently straight" (Pg. 401). She repeats this point many times to drive into our head that we need to question why this fact is not being focused on, or even discussed, in American society.

"Nor is this about attributing such crimes to a single cause. Addiction to the drug of supremacy is not their only root, just the deepest and most ignored one" (Pg. 402). She states that addiction to supremacy is the deepenst, and most ignored issue, to try to get the reader to really think about it. She wants us to think that if it is the deepest, than it definately should not be the one that is most ignored, and this issue needs to be faced.

"Others may kill to improve their own condition-in self-defense, or for money or drugs; to eliminate enemies; to declare turf in drive-by shootings; even for a jacket or a pair of sneakers-but white males addicted to supremace kill even when it worsens their condition or ends in suicide" (Pg. 402). She wants to say that these White Men are the worst type of killers, and more of a threat to society than anybody else, because of their psychological state. Andy

"I think the way out..." (p. 404). I picked up on the fact that the reason she might be saying this is backed by her personal motivation in being a feminist. It goes along with her earlier argument that men can be sensitive in such a way of rejecting superiority. This is not just to do with the fact of killing but also relates directly to her being a feminist.

"What if these two..." (p. 403). It almost seems that she is defending the Columbine killers in the sense that she is giving support to the assumption that being called a "fag" led them to carrying out the shooting.

"Self-Reported Gun Possession..." (p. 390). It is hard to make an inference about anything in this article becasue it is very simply comprised of all facts. However, here the inference might be that it's crazy to see that that many students brought a gun to school in the past 4 weeks. The question is, why do we not hear about these studies while in school? The studies may be being done, but what happens after they are conducted? Atshekleton

"…most of these events occured at school or home, so opportunities for contextualized learning are significant, and adults need to attend to those events, seeing them as an opportunity to teach negotiation skills" (p.394). I think the author is trying to say that parents/guardians, or a close friend should be the first people to take action (talk, and give advice)and stop someone they love/care about from doing something so evil like taking another person's life. If you suspect something is wrong, talk to that person and make sure everything is fine mentally and physically.

"As for victims, if racial identities had been reversed, would racism remain so little discussed?" (p.403). The author is trying to say that racism is a big factor in murders and yet no one (reporters and everybody else) wants to bring up that issue.

"Would journalists assume that female murderers had suffered from being shut out of access to power in high school, so much that they were pushed beyond their limits?" (. p. 403). Because males get so much attention for whatever they are doing (good or bad), a female probably would not get the same amount because every body underestimate females. The writer is trying to say that since male are killing to get more power and attention, why not do the same too? and both genders are not thinking about the consequences. Phane88

".., a student may react in a violent or agressive manner in response to bullying, social rejection, public humiliation, perceived lack of fairness in disciplinary actions, and stress" (pg 384). "...effective schools have (a) clearly defined goals in relation to the school mission and philosophy, (b) close monitoring and feedback in regard to progress toward these goals, (c) high expectations for student achievement and clear boundaries for acceptable behavior, (d) high morale among staff and students, and (e) successful and meaningful involvement of parents and the community" (pg 383). "...school securtiy needs to become a part of the central mission of the school, where professional standards and evaluation criteria can be applied to assessing the effectiveness of security professionals" (pg 382). Esco

“…it is also important to make the distinction…” (386). Determine which kids are naturally aggressive and which kids are victimized because of their ethnicity and beliefs. “For example, females do not engage…” (387). He is trying to say that females are still aggressive, they just do not show it in dangerous physical behavior. “Of particular relevance…” (394). Violent kids have “reasons” that justify their behavior. Dave

"There are identifiable patterns of an individual's involvement in incidents of school violence" (page 394). I would have thought there would be no patterns, but the author may be implying patterns outside that of time and place. "We know that hate crimes...are overwhelmingly committed by white men who are straight" (page 401). There is much more hate in troubled straight teens than troubled gay teens. Gay teens are upset at the government and conservatives, straight teens are pretty much mad at the world. "White males-usually intelligent..." (page 401). I had never thought of school shooters as intelligent. Maybe more so than people in other countries, but they are almost always below average. John?

There has always been school violence but it holds a much bigger profile now than before. Aggressive, drug using, gang related, inner city males are more likely to carry guns than others. Duh. White men kill because it makes them feel big. Dan

QUESTIONS—Record any questions you have right there in the margin. You may find an answer later in the text. And remember, sometimes the author is being ambiguous on purpose.

Has there always been violence in schools? If not, then when did it start? (page 375) Are the parents to blame at all? (page 402) Are acts of violence in schools done mostly by students or just people who come to the school and fight? (page 376) Jessica

What about the portion of the youth that does not go to school? "Researchers from health and psychology perspectives who were interested in preventing and reducing youth violence saw schools as logical settings in which to implement programs for reducing violence" (p. 378). If we discussed about the gender, race, and class components of the murderers, wouldn't that contribute to sensationalism? "Yet we discuss the gender, race, and class components of anorexia, but not the role of the same factors in producing epidemics among the powerful" (p. 403). Doesn't violence stem from more in-depth issues that deal with an individual's thoughts and feelings rather than mere superiority? "But first, we have to admit and name the truth about supremacy crimes" (p. 404). Annerrs

What is it about teenagers that makes them want to kill/fight somebody? Should I be worried and more careful of who I befriends with on campus? Why is it that so many intelligent people are ruining their lives by becoming murderers "because they want power" (p.401)? Phane88

"It's our sons-and "our" can usually be read as "white," "middle class," and "heterosexual."" (pg. 401). This question was answered later on in the paper, but I wondered how sexual orientation was related to these murders, but examples of men concealing their sexuality by killing sexual partners prove it's relation.

"Such crimes are rare enough to leave a haunting refrain of disbelief as evoked in Pat Parker's poem "jonestown": "Black folks do not/Black folks do not/Black folks do not commit suicide." And yet they did." This sentence doesn't make sense to me. How does the poem orchestrate haunting disbelief? The 'and yet they did' she already stated, what point does that prove? This sentence confuses me. "...that males are superior to females, that they must find a place in a male hierarchy, and that the ability to dominate someone is so important that even a mere insult can justify lethal revenge." I want to ask the author if that really is the main issue? Since in the previous article it stated that men killed other men at a much higher rate than they killed women, if men wanting to be dominant over women really the main cause of violence in the country? Andy

"Self-Reported Gun..." (p. 390). The question is, why do we not hear about these studies while in school? The studies may be being done, but what happens after they are conducted? I think it is important for us, as students to hear about things like this are happening, but why are we being sheltered? The general question that I have is: Why is it mostly white males that committ these murders? In any other situation it is fairly balanced, I think, but why is it that in schools it is the white men that cause these problems? The most important question I have is: Why is nothing being done about this problem that is shown? Like I said, the studies are being conducted, but what comes from them? What is the government doing to stop this problem? I do not believe it is the government's responsibility to solve all of the people's problems, but is there anything at all that they could do? I don't even know what to think anymore about what education is coming to in this country. Atshekleton

Do violence prevention programs really help to lower violent acts in schools? If everyone knew that everyone else had a gun, would that reduce the amount of violent acts knowing that all have a type of protection? Does gender, race, and class, really act as a component to violence? Esco

Has this research really prevented violence in schools? Can you prevent school violence? How do these kids get access to guns? Dave

Is our male dominated culture more to blame than parents? What are tell tale signs of school shooters? Why don't we try publicizing less school shootings so the idea fades away? John?

Humans have always been violent creatures, we can talk about why we do it but will anything make it stop? Why does violence have to become an issue of race? To make it a race issue seems to say that the race as a whole has something wrong with it while it seems to me that it is the individual. Short of individual body searches, what can be done to keep weapons out? Dan