Comprehensive Survey on School Violence

As of January 16, 2001

Analyzing 144 responses

Questions 1 through 23 were for all respondents.

Question 1a Please indicate your school setting. (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
City	36	25.0%
Suburban	36	25.0%
Small town	33	22.9%
Rural	20	13.9%
Private - Religious	7	4.9%
Inner City	6	4.2%
College Prep	1	0.7%
	144	100.0%

Question 1b Comments about school setting if not described above adequately

• Its in a small town, but very close to new york city.

• My school is a pretty safe environment to be in.

• I work but just recently graduated

• College-small town

• JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL SCHOOL

• I live in a big town which is going to be very very populated.

• Neighbourhood school

• it's in the middle of nowhere

• community school with surrounding towns

Question 1c How many students are in your school?
 

	Count	Percent
Over 1500	50	34.7%
1000 - 1500	30	20.8%
200 - 500	24	16.7%
800 - 1000	17	11.8%
500 - 800	16	11.1%
Under 200	6	4.2%
	144	100.0%

Question 2 Are you taking this survey as part of a school-assigned project? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
No	129	89.6%
Yes	14	9.7%
	144	100.0%

Question 3a Please give your age group. (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
15-20	98	68.1%
11-14	18	12.5%
41-50	9	6.3%
31-40	8	5.6%
21-30	5	3.5%
51-60	5	3.5%
	144	100.0%

Question 3b Please indicate your sex. (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Female	88	61.1%
Male	54	37.5%
	144	100.0%

 Question 4 Does your school have a school resource officer (a law enforcement officer) on school grounds? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
My school has a uniformed officer	61	42.4%
My school does NOT have a resource officer	50	34.7%
I don't know	20	13.9%
My school has a plainclothes officer	12	8.3%
	144	100.0%

Question 5 Does/would having an officer on school grounds help reduce school crime? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Yes	65	45.1%
I don't know	39	27.1%
No	39	27.1%
	144	100.0%

Question 6 Would you personally use a toll-free hot line to report school violence, crime, or potential crime? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
I would use it only if I didn't have to give my name. It is OK if hotline pranksters can be tracked down.	51	35.4%
I would use it only if it is completely anonymous, the caller can never be tracked	35	24.3%
I would never use the hotline	33	22.9%
I would use the hotline and provide my name and phone number	23	16.0%
	144	100.0%

Question 7 Does your school have a violence or safety plan? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
I don't know	79	54.9%
Yes	46	31.9%
No	18	12.5%
	144	100.0%

Question 8 Does your school have a staff member, school counselor, or social worker to specifically address students' PERSONAL problems? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
We have some trained staff, but need additional trained resources.	59	41.0%
Our school is adequately staffed to address students' personal problems.	49	34.0%
I don't know	17	11.8%
Our school is adequately staffed to address students' personal problems	13	9.0%
No, we don't have ANY trained staff to address students' personal problems.	4	2.8%
	144	100.0%

 Question 9 Would it be helpful for students to meet in small groups during school to discuss school violence issues? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Yes	88	61.1%
No	33	22.9%
No Opinion	21	14.6%
	144	100.0%

Question 10 Having access to students' criminal records would be desirable and would be helpful to school officials in dealing with violence prevention. (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Agree	75	52.1%
Strongly Agree	25	17.4%
Disagree	22	15.3%
Strongly disagree	19	13.2%
	144	100.0%

Question 11 My school deals with all forms of aggressive, violent student behavior, and disrespect in a firm, fair, and consistent manner. (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Sometimes	62	43.1%
Often	34	23.6%
Almost always	24	16.7%
Almost never	22	15.3%
	144	100.0%

Question 12 My school enforces a policy where visitors are required to sign in through the office. (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Almost always	73	50.7%
Often	28	19.4%
Sometimes	22	15.3%
Almost never	18	12.5%
	144	100.0%

Question 13 Does requiring the wearing of school uniforms help address school violence? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
There is no relationship between requiring school uniforms and reducing violence.	47	32.6%
Our school does not require uniforms and wearing them will not reduce violence.	41	28.5%
Our school does not require uniforms, but it should to reduce violence.	35	24.3%
Our school does not require uniforms. Requiring uniforms would not reduce violence.	9	6.3%
Our school requires uniforms, I don't know if it has helped reduce violence.	6	4.2%
Our school requires them and it has helped reduce school violence.	2	1.4%
Our school requires them and it hasn't reduced school violence.	1	0.7%
	144	100.0%

Question 14 My school's approach to discipline consists of minimum rules with a high expectation of good behavior, rather than excessive and restrictive rules that suggest that most students will misbehave. (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Agree	57	39.6%
Disagree	49	34.0%
Strongly Agree	18	12.5%
Strongly disagree	16	11.1%
	144	100.0%

Question 15 Students are reluctant to report or snitch on other students. Following are reasons teens have given for not turning in troublemakers. Please respond to each statement.
 

	Totally Disagree		Disagree		No Opinion	Agree		TotallyAgree
They are afraid of reprisals from the culprits.	3	11		14			68		43
There is an unwritten 'code of silence'.	9	13		37			52		28
They are afraid their identity will not be protected.	4	10		13			68		44
They don't think teachers would believe them.	14	41		14			57		13
They don't want to get involved.	2	13		15			64		44
They don't believe their friends are serious.	5	26		22			71		15
They respect the 'boldness' of the wrongdoer.	29	50		34			16		10
They say just ignore it. It will go away.	17	22		29			57		14

Sample Size: 144 responses

 Question 16 Please evaluate each of these suggestions for preventing or discouraging students from bringing weapons to school. Please respond to each statement.
 

	Totally Disagree	Disagree	No Opinion	Agree	Totally
Require see-through backpacks	49	1	17	20	11
Have random locker and car searches	28	2	11	45	31
Install metal detectors	19	19	24	41	33
Invoke harsher penalties for those who do violence	3	6	1	51	68
Ban handguns	11	23	10	21	72
Teach conflict resolution to reduce tension	4	21	17	60	35
Treat everyone with courtesy and respect	0	8	10	44	74
Deal with bullies firmly: both students and teachers	0	2	13	55	67
Take students seriously when they say someone is 'messing' with them	2	2	7	55	73

Sample Size: 144 responses

Question 17 Teachers and staff in my school treat everyone with respect and courtesy. (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Sometimes	55	38.2%
Most of the time	52	36.1%
Almost always	16	11.1%
Almost never	14	9.7%
	144	100.0%

Question 18 Evaluate each of the following suggestions about what schools can do with students who are chronic troublemakers. Please respond to each statement.
 

	Totally Disagree	Disagree	No Opinion	Agree	Totally Agree
Move them to alternative schools.	5	31	21	52	28
Expel them.	11	36	22	42	26
Make the punishment fit the offense.	1	2	7	57	70
Try to get them some help.	4	4	5	66	64
Send them to boot camp.	21	22	33	33	28
Get parents involved.	2	3	17	40	73
Hold parents responsible for their children's actions.	25	37	28	25	22
Teach conflict/anger management to students and parents.	2	7	21	59	44

Sample Size: 144 responses

Question 19 Are students in your school trained to alert adminstrators about potential problems by strangers or persons who have no business at the school? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
No	51	35.4%
Yes	46	31.9%
I don't know	39	27.1%
	144	100.0%

Question 20 Do students in your school feel comfortable going to a counselor for PERSONAL problems? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
I don't know	56	38.9%
No	51	35.4%
Yes	30	20.8%
	144	100.0%

Question 21 There is a double standard in my school. Those who are cute, athletic, or academic get away with everything; those who aren't don't. (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Agree	49	34.0%
Strongly agree	38	26.4%
Disagree	32	22.2%
Strongly Disagree	16	11.1%
	144	100.0%

Question 22a Schools should teach basic character values and morality. They should teach that murder, violence, stealing, lying, adultery, and disrespect for parents and authority are wrong. (Select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Yes	97	67.4%
No (please explain below)	22	15.3%
I don't know	11	7.6%
No	5	3.5%
	144	100.0%

 

Question 22b If you answered "No" above, please tell us why morality and character values should not be taught in school. (Select one)
 

	Count	Percent
It's the family's responsibility to teach character and morality.	12	8.3%
Morality is a personal issue and shouldn't be taught as a class activity.	9	6.3%
Other reasons	4	2.8%
Those are religious issues and should not be taught in school	2	1.4%
These issues belong in the church	1	0.7%

 Question 23 Should hand guns be banned? (Check all that apply)
 

	Count	Percent
No, people who want to do violence will still be able to get guns.	55	38.2%
Yes, but I don't think it would have much effect on school violence	51	35.4%
Yes, it would eliminate school violence.	31	21.5%
No, it doesn't address the causes of violence	31	21.5%
No, the Constitution gives us the right to own guns.	28	19.4%

Sample Size: 144 responses. Multiple responses permitted.

Question 24 I am... (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
A student or recently graduated student	111	77.1%
A parent who is not an educator	18	12.5%
An educator	7	4.9%
	144	100.0%

Questions 25 through 35 were for students only.
 
 

Question 25 Have you ever been asked seriously for your opinion on school violence? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
No	78	70.27%
Yes	33	29.72%
	111	99.99%

Sample Size: 111 responses

Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

Question 26 Do you generally feel safe in school? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Yes	90	81.08%
No	21	18.92%
	111	100.0%

Sample Size: 111 responses

Question 27 Do you think violence could happen in your school? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Yes	99	90.00
No	11	10.00
	110	100.0%

Sample Size: 110 responses

Question 28a Have you seen students in your school with a gun or other deadly weapon? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
No, I haven't seen or heard about any deadly weapon being brought to school	77	70.00%
Yes, but I did not report it	28	25.45%
Yes, I reported it to the proper authorities	5	4.54%
	110	99.99%

Sample Size: 110 responses Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

Question 28b If you didn't report it, why not? (Please enter your response in the space provided below)

• I was young and afraid. The person with the weapon was known for having 'friends' that were violent and cruel. It was my first year in highschool and did not know how to react to the situation

• cauz, he just wanted to show someone, and i knew the kid, so i knew he wasnt gonna use it, he just had it because he was going to the bronx after school, he wanted it to feel safe.

• Because I didnt want the person to be mad and i didnt think they would use it

• It was a type of knife that could be considered deadly. I never considerd what could happen because of it. didn't cross my mind.

• THE COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH GUNS ARE ALL TALK., WHEN APPROACHED THEY NEVER WHIP THEY'RE PISTOLS AT ME...PERHAPS BECAUSE THEY PISSED THEIR PANTS.....

• I didn't see it but heard about it....so I didn't know enough to actually say something.

• The principal found out before I could say anything.

• Everything I heard was from people I don't trust and gossip.

• because at the time i did not realize how bad the situation could have got and for the simple fact i did not want to get involeved or be known as a snitch

• I didn't feel threatened.

• I knew them.

• the weapon wasn't being used to hurt anyone. the student had no intentions whatsoever of hurting anyone with it. it wasn't really a weapon to me but it was the school.

• i was to busy...i had to get to my next class

• I knew that the person was not going to act in a violent manner, plus they were my friend

• i didn't know until the person had already been turned in

• The teacher caught the student in class with a knife...everyone saw it!!

• I dont know why i just didnt think about it it was just a pocket knife i didnt think about it causing any disturbance

• because he wasn't planning to do anything with it and i don't like to get involved with stuff,unless he is doing something to me i can stay out of trouble better if i don't get involved

• cause my name at some point wouldn't be protected. and also that the school authorities wouldn't do all that much about it. But i did tell the authorities only once. (i've seen weapons at school numerous times)

• cause my name at some point wouldn't be protected. and also that the school authorities wouldn't do all that much about it. But i did tell the authorities only once. (i've seen weapons at school numerous times)

• It would have been a waste of time.

• i didnt but other people did

• Actually, I DID hear about a couple of incidents after they'd already been taken care of.

• I am not a snitch

• i didn't report it cause it was really none of my business but i have should of i guess i was scared and i didn't wanna get hurt

• It wasn't my place

• i didnt think it would lead to any thing, i figured it was just someone trying to look tough. i also didnt really want to be known as the one who got them in trouble

• It had already been reported.

Question 29a Have you ever felt the need to carry a weapon to school? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
No	106	95.49%
Yes (please explain below)	5	4.50%
	111	99.99%

Sample Size: 111 responses Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

 Question 29b Please explain why you felt the need to carry a weapon to school. (Please enter your response in the space provided below)

• No need to carry a gun or any weapon.

• some kids were bothering me and one time i did have a weaopn at school...but nobody saw.

• it wasn't that bad...but pretty much. i carried nails. it was just in case if i got in a fight at school. it was because i got in a fight before that time and nothing was done about it. although i was the victim. they treated him and i the same. so since he knew i told the authorities. i carried nails....just in case. (this only happened once)

• it wasn't that bad...but pretty much. i carried nails. it was just in case if i got in a fight at school. it was because i got in a fight before that time and nothing was done about it. although i was the victim. they treated him and i the same. so since he knew i told the authorities. i carried nails....just in case. (this only happened once)

Question 30 Please respond to each of the following statements.
 

	Never	Seldom	Sometimes	Often	Always
I feel loved and respected by my parents.	2	2	21	35	51
I feel accepted and respected by other students.	2	7	37	50	15
I feel accepted and respected by my teachers.	2	7	24	46	31
I feel accepted and respected by other school staff.	3	16	25	42	25
I feel accepted and respected by local law enforcement personnel.	9	13	28	35	24

Sample Size: 111 responses

Question 31a Have you known of students who threatened to do violence at school? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
No	50	45.04%
Yes, but I did not report it	46	41.44%
Yes, I reported it to the proper authorities	15	13.51%
	111	99.9%

Sample Size: 111 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.
 
 

Question 31b If you didn't report it, why not?

• Fear of retaliation. Fear of being known as a NARC.

• they are the people who are constantly doing something for attention. They never carry anything out. they just wave their arms and jump up and down until someone acknowledges them. Then, they move on to the next thing.

• I didn't think they were serious. They weren't.

• THEY ARE IN DERISION, ANYWAYS, ITS THEIR OWN BATTLE WITH THEIR OWN SOCIAL-TYPE PEOPLES....

• It wasn't major violence people threatend to fist fight but usually they do not because they say it when their angry and didn't usually mean it.

• Because if you tell on somebody, you might as well pray to see tomorrow because they will hurt you, believe you me.

• Friends

• The student told the teacher to his face.

• Our school staff usually finds out quicker than most of the student body about threats of violence. In this case I heard after it was reported.

• By the time I know or hear about them then they have already been turned in.

• did not want to be known as a snitch

• It's not my place to limit their freedom of speech if they are joking it could cause a problem without reason

• Because I didn't realize at the time that she was making a threat, because she's said stuff like that ever since I've known her... after the fact, however, after things happened at our school and the cops questioned me about it, I told them what she'd said.

• Because no one would care, nor do anything about it. The teachers don't care they say, "Be careful what you say I'm supposed to send you to the office for that."

• After the fact, it had already been reported

• I didn't take them serious. they weren't serious

• they were not serious at all.

• I WAS TO BUSY!!!!!!

• somebody else reported it first

• someone reported it already!

• At fisrt iI didn't believe that he the person would ever do anything like that...but it turns out that they woul've if another friend wouldn't have told...i was a witness and had to talk to principals!!

• Because it was just talk

• i don't like to get involved it is none of my business

• They weren't serious.

• because my name wouldn't be covered. and i would be found out sooner or later in some way.

• because my name wouldn't be covered. and i would be found out sooner or later in some way.

• Reasons.

• I don't really know that student. He or she might have joked about it.

• Im not a snitch

• Again, I found out about it after it had already been taken care of.

• because my school blows it off and does nothing

• because i was afradi if i did then they would come after me.

• cause i believed he wouldn't have cause he was one of my friends and i didn't want him to get into trouble cause even if did bring a weapon i would have told him to put it away before something terrible willl happen

• It didn't pose physical thret to the victim. I new the person and did not feel they would follow through with ther threats.

• If it is not happening to me why should I tell, they might retaliate on me.

• i knew they wouldnt do anything, that it was just a prank.

• because if they had found out that i had ratted on them they would have done something to me.

• It was nothing serious and they we're just pissed off. I knew it wouldn't happen

• cause it was just a little scuffle

Question 32 If you were treated with disrespect by a teacher or administrator and you reported it to the principal, you would get a fair hearing and something would be done about it if your complaint proved to be valid. (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Maybe	41	37.27%
Probably	30	27.27%
Very unlikely	30	27.27%
Very likely	9	8.18%
	110	99.99%

Sample Size: 111 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

Question 33 Please respond to each of the following.]:
 

	Yes	No
In the past year I have been disrespected publicly by a teacher in my school.	41	69
In the past year I have been disrespected publicly by another student in my school.	59	51
In the past year I have been publicly disrespectful to a teacher in my school.	21	89
In the past year I have been publicly disrespectful to another student in my school.	30	80

Question 34 What is your single biggest worry or fear at school?

• not fitting in

• That students will die without knowing the love of Christ

• Something will happen, and the administrators wont be able to do anything to stop it.

• Getting caught with cigarettes

• Getting hurt or picked on by other students

• Bad Grades

• Teachers' unfair treatment of students will eventually push one student too far.

• A few people I know may do what they kid about doing, harming people at school. Probably for something real dumb too.

• LOSING MY FOCUS OF STUDIES....

• not fitting in

• That someone will bring a gun to school and another student will end up getting killed or a bombing will occur like what happened at Columbine

• Just turning in my homework on time.

• Saying the wrong thing and then getting beat up by someone

• nothing really. i feel safe.. i mean arnt we suppose to feel safe?

• Rape is my biggest fear. I attend a university in a small city, and I think rape occurs more at my school than gun violence.

• not knowing the answers

• That something could happen like things happened in Columbine.

• Most of the school shootings have happened at schools very similar in size and overall feel to mine. It's a very real possibility.

• My biggest worry is usually not violence related, it's an essay due three days ago, or something like that.

• something happening at our school and being uninformed about it

• a repeat of Columbine, i can see it happening at our school

• That it might collapse.

• grades

• get involved in a fight

• someone doing something to the school besides a shooting that would hurt everyone because I could not jump in front of someone who is lost to save them.

• Not being accepted

• that a columbine incident will happen i still have a youger brother and sister in school whom i worry about

• Bombs and gunmen.

• Administrative Penalties

• At my school, every since Columbine we have had 5 bomb threats and we have had4 Anthrax threats.I'm afraid one day there will be a bomb in the school and the teachers will not find it and let us continue to class. At our school the police come out when there is a threat but they just sit in their cars while the teachers check their rooms. The teachers don't even do a good job because if I wanted to bad enough I could hide a bomb in the school and the teachers would never find it. Not that I would ever do something that stupid.

• *shrug*

• that there ARE people who have deadly assault weapons, and that they aren't afraid to use them.

• unfair grading, bias towards students teachers like

• That threats made will be carried out.

• That my friends will get hurt. My friends brother got pushed through a window so that's why I have that fear.

• someone coming to our school and going on a shooting rampage.

• Mass killing

• not getting the grades I should.

• None.

• that people will see me different than i really am just because i am quiet natured

• An interesting question... I don't quite know how to answer this and keep it relevant to the purposes of the survey - My single biggest worry or fear is that of trying to get my homework done - thus, I have no fear of violence. Several explanations could account for this, such as school type, population, etc. There is not enough information in my particular answer to really explore this topic - perhaps another question, such as "Describe your school," would be a great complement to this survey

• I am afraid that someone will feel the need for violence and take it out on everybody at school, no matter who you are.

• Being killed or hurt by my ex-boyfriend who raped me over the summer. I am also afraid of someone bringing a bomb or gun or knife to school.

• in relation to violence-I have no real fears; my worries are primarily academic

• don't have any.

• guns and violence

• nothing really

• Grades

• that the students are not taken seriously and not respected as individuals who have real problems sometimes. There are no counselors for the students who actually handle the emotional needs of the students. They are used primarily for the purpose of test administration and college counseling. I would like to see more interaction between the counselors and the students on a personal level. I think it would help to have individuals whose sole responsibility was to monitor the students in private sessions to search for aggressive signs in the mentality and provide support services for those students and their parents.

• THAT MY FRIENDS WILL KILL ME AND THAT MY ZIPPER IS DOWN

• no coment

• that one day someone is jusy gonna get to the point to where they cant stand it and blow up our school w have had soo many threats to that,but the students were expelled.

• I don't know

• That someone will come in and kill everyone

• That some kid who can't handle the pressures of life will come in with a gun and blow away anyone that is in their way!!

• that something might happen like what happened at columine

• that i might make a bad grade

• That a student could be outraged and want to kill everybody at my school.

• not making the football team

• A school shooting

• Someone will get beaten or stabbed and the attacker will not be punished as severely as they could be because they will inevitably be a jock/preppy/"cool" kid

• that another student will come up to me and attack me just because of my race.

• My Grades

• going there

• that something no one thought would happen. and no one would be able to stop it no matter what.

• Failing my tests and exams

• Most of the time I feel safe at school but there is always a little bit that worries because I know some people just don't like other people and might actullay shoot them.

• getting my locker door slammed by a certain annoymus student

• any thing to do with violence period. BUt guns are a big concern

• that colimbine will happen in my school.

• someone bringing a gun to school

• None

• My single biggest worry at school had nothing to do with violence.

• THAT THE TEACHERS ARE NOT AROUND AT THE RIGHT TIME IN THE SCHOO, AND THAT IF A FIGHT OCCOURS THEY WON'T BE THERE TO BREAK IT UP.

• don't really have one

• the way that people treat each other and have no empathy. They tease and taunt those that don't fit in and one it really damages that person emotionally and two it can cause violence

• That someone will cross the line and I will have to kick their ass!!!

• that everybody might quit being so god dammed ignorant

• Fitting in and being liked by everyone else. Getting boyfriends and more friends.

• being drugged

• a bomb can be planted

• to probably to get ninered like tape to a tree or something like that

• What other people think of me

• my single biggest fear @ school is that i will fail i don't care much about stupid violence i am not apart of it and don't hear much about it and this is like american or something cuz i don't no 1 school that actually allows hand guns or n e thing like that in canada this is rediculous that they r allowed people having guns in school i would be 2 afraid 2 go 2 school!!!!!!!!!!! if this is in canada i am ashamed and we r starting 2 be americans and belive me that is not a good thing well n e way i don't have much fear other than i might get made fun of of fail and i am not that worried

• That I won't "fit in" .

• too lazy to answer

• Someone bombing the school or going on a shooting rampage.

• I don't really have any I don't think about it

• bad grades

• that one day a student may go nuts and go on a killing spree

• being late for class and the teacher yelling at you alot

• That something like Columbine will happen. So many people thought that was cool and they wear these shirts that make fun of it and that's scary because it wasn't funny at all

• making good grades

• The violence around

Sample Size: 144 responses
 
 

Questions 36 through 43 were for educators only.

Question 36

Do you generally feel safe at school? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Yes	6	85.71%
No	1	14.28%
	7	99.99%

Sample Size: 7 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

Question 37 Do you think violence could happen at your school? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Yes	7	100.0%
No	0	0.0%
	7	100.0%

Sample Size: 7 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

Question 38 Have you seen students in your school with a gun or other deadly weapon? (select one)
 

Count	Count	Percent
No, I haven't seen or heard about any deadly weapon being brought to school	7	100.0%
	7	100.0%

Sample Size: 7 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

Question 39 Have you ever felt the need to carry a weapon to school? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
No	7	4.9%
	144	100.0%

Sample Size: 7 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

Question 40 Teenagers in Teen Think Tanks have said that they need to be taught morality, values, and ethics in school because they're not being taught them at home. Do you agree? (Check all that apply)
 

	Count	Percent
Yes, it would solve a lot of problems	7	100.0%
Yes, but we don't have enough time	3	42.85%
Yes, but we can't do it because of school policy	2	28.57%
Yes, but we can't do it because we can't get into religion	1	14.28%
Yes, but we can't for other reasons	0	0.0%
No, school is not the right place to teach these things	0	0.0%
No, we don't have enough time to teach everything now	0	0.0%
No, we can't get involved with religious issues	0	0.0%
No. Most teachers teach these things by the way they live.	0	0.0%
No, for other reasons.	0	0.0%

Sample Size: 7 responses. Multiple responses permitted.

Question 41 Please respond to each of the following statements.]:
 

	Never	Seldom	Sometimes	Often	Always
I feel accepted and respected by my peers.	0	0	0	4	3
I feel accepted and respected by my students.	0	0	0	4	3
I feel accepted and respected by parents.	0	0	1	3	3
I feel accepted and respected by other school staff.	0	0	0	4	3

Sample Size: 7 responses

Question 42 Please respond to each of the following.
 

	Yes	No
In the past year I have been disrespected publicly by another teacher in my school.	2	5
In the past year I have been disrespected publicly by a student in my school.	5	2
In the past year I have been disrespected publicly by a parent.	1	6
In the past year I have been disrespected publicly by an administrator in my school.	1	6
In the past year I have been publicly disrespectful to another teacher in my school.	1	6
In the past year I have been publicly disrespectful to a student in my school.	1	6

 

Sample Size: 7 responses

Question 43 What is your single biggest worry or fear when you are at school?

• I would be attacked by students as I have in the past. Or would be in a situation of another teacher being attacked.

• I look at the good and don't dwell on fear and worry.

• STUDENT ATTACKS ON OTHER STUDENTS

• That someone will harm one or more of the children.

Sample Size: 7 responses

Questions 44 through 52 were for parents and/or educators.

Question 44 Does your child generally feel safe in school? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Yes	13	68.42%
No	6	31.57%
	19	99.99%

Sample Size: 19 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

Question 45 Do you think violence could happen in your child's school? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Yes	19	100.0%
	19	100.0%

Sample Size: 19 responses

Question 46a Have you heard of students in school with a gun or other deadly weapon? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
No, I haven't seen or heard about any deadly weapon being brought to school	12	63.15%
Yes, but I did not report it	5	26.31%
Yes, I reported it to the proper authorities	2	10.52%
	19	99.98%

Sample Size: 19 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

 Question 46b If you didn't report it, why not? (please respond in the space provided below)

• I heard about it after the fact.

• Well, It has been taken care of. No sense in reporting something that has already been dealt with. Heard it from the newspaper anyway. Look, people brought guns when I was a kid. The big difference now is the RAP culture teaches that guns solve problems and that it is cool to be a gangster, or GANGSTAR. This encourages people to solve their disputes in a more final method than a fistfight. I know that fistfights are not condoned, but at least there was a threat to both involved that they could get hurt which would cause them gto think about it. Getting slugged with a fist has much different reprocussions than gettign slugged with a peice of lead.

• I did hear of and witness sheriff's deputies with a group of young boys who were rumored to have shown a knife on campus. The boys were searched and the knife was found.

• I heard about it after it had been reported by one of the students.

• If the kids are reported it gets turned over to the social service people who talk a good game but do nothing same with the judges no action no punishment no responsability

Sample Size: 19 responses
 
 

Question 47 Do you suspect your child has ever felt the need to carry a weapon to school? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
No	17	89.47%
Yes	2	10.52%
	19	99.99%

Sample Size: 19 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

 Question 48 Parents in Littleton, CO (Columbine) claim to have not known that weapons and bomb making materials were being kept in their homes. Other than your personal firearms, can you say with absolute certainty that there are no such dangerous articles in your home? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Yes	17	85.0%
No	3	15.0%
	20	100.0%

Sample Size: 20 responses

Question 49 Please respond to each of the following statements.]:
 

	Never	Seldom	Sometimes	Often	Always
My child feels loved and respected at home.	0	0	0	6	14
My child feels accepted and respected by other students.	2	0	7	8	3
My child feels accepted and respected by teachers.	1	1	4	9	5
My child feels accepted and respected by other school staff.	1	2	4	9	4
My child feels accepted and respected by local law enforcement personnel.	4	1	2	8	5

Sample Size: 20 responses

Question 50a Have you known of students who threatened to do violence at school? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
No	12	60.0%
Yes, I reported it to the proper authorities	6	30.0%
Yes, but I did not report it	2	10.0%
	20	100.0%

Sample Size: 20 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

Question 50b If you didn't report it, why not? (please respond in the space provided below)

• It was published in the paper. When I was in school, I heard of such on a firsthand basis, but the disutes were settled by fistfights.

• I heard about it after the fact.

Sample Size: 144 responses

 Question 51 If my child were treated with disrespect by a teacher or administrator and it was reported to the principal, my child would get a fair hearing and something would be done about it if the complaint proved to be valid. (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Probably	8	40.0%
Maybe	5	25.0%
Very unlikely	4	20.0%
Very likely	3	15.0%
	20	100.0%

Sample Size: 20 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

Question 52 What is your single biggest worry about your child at school?

• my kids are out of school but. as a parent and minister i have ministered to kids in prison. there is not enough discipline in homes and schools now adays. the way it is kids can turn in the parent if they try to discipline the kids. 50 years ago we did not have the problems we have today with kids and it is due to discipline and they took Jesus out of school and the devil walked in. i am sick and tired of hearing about church and state issue. the Word of God says : The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof.even GOD owns every state.this county is morally corrupt and there are double standards and kids are confused by that . we need to go back to the old time way of raising kids , GOD'S WAY. the Word of God talks about discipline and the way to raise a child. the Word of God says. To train up a child in the way that he should go and when he gets old he won't depart from it. God is the same GOD that He was when the Bible was written.what was a sin 100 years ago is ! a sin now. We need JESUS CHRIST back in our school system again . it is real clear what we have is not working. WAKE UP AMERICA. kids can only get away with what we adults allow them to get away with. Adults need to be the GODLY example for this younger generation. We as adults and Christians are the watchman over this generation. IS GOD pleased with us , don't think so.All of this new way of raising kids is not working folks. look at the facts. kids need discipline (not beatings) Godly discipline. back in Moses day they use to stone an unruly child to death. We all will stand before a just GOD and answer to HIM for what we have or have not done for the kids. It is GODS way or the devils way. i see real clear that the devil is destroying this generation , while the '' adults '' are trying to figure out what is wrong. READ THE WORD OF GOD AMERICA and you will see what is wrong. GOD help us all not to be stupid. Get real.and see the reality of what is happening. Put GOD back in! our schools when the devil is taken out of schools then th! ere will be no more shootings. REALITY.

• My biggest worry is that the pop culture will influence them and the current societal values will be learned. I would rather them be in Boy Scouts and I hire tutors. I will one day. teachers today seem to out of touch with reality. Take guns for instance. Anyone holding a gun can easily tell if it is loaded by looking in the chamber. Odds are, if it is loaded, a shell will hit the floor. WHat is different from the schools in the early part of the 1900's and now? The culture has changed and not the kids. Plus educators used to be conservative minded.

• being safe.

• None really. I am very confident in the work done by the educators in my school. They are Christian based though it is a public school and I feel that they instill good moral character and require good moral conduct from the stucents there.

• I am more concerned with my child's grades and participation in her educational experiences. She is very adept at choosing and eliminating good friends and those she knows we would not want her to be friends with and those she does not wish to form friendships with.

• NEGLECT

• Random act of violence, or getting caught as an innocent by-stander in black vs. white conflict

• My single biggest worry about my child at school is that there will be an incident like the one in Columbine and my child will be a target because he is tall, athletic and a good student.

• Those that are out of control not only in school but in the home taking advantage of the child who is not agressive and cannot stand up for themself.

• getting killed

• They aren't protected and they are all alone while they are there.

• Peer pressure

• drugs gang related stuff

• I fear an out-of-control person can too easily find a way to invoke harm on my child & others. Kids need to be taught at an early age of appropriate methods to vent anger.

• Attacked by criminals that have been thrown out of one school because of their criminal behavior and admitted to our school.

• (Not Answered)

• Popularity contests and geek/nerd bashingruined my life and caused me thousands in mental health bills. Worst thing is I see my children going through the same things I did, and I feel helpless to do anything about it.

• My biggest worry is kids on pyschiatric drugs. Almost every case of major violence in schools the perpetrator was on psychiatric drugs or had just gotten off them. It is known and even printed on the inserts that these drugs cause violence. Why is this being ignored? Look at the statistics of violence in schools. The rise is directly proportional to the rise of these drugs being prescribed.

• My biggest worry is kids on pyschiatric drugs. Almost every case of major violence in schools the perpetrator was on psychiatric drugs or had just gotten off them. It is known and even printed on the inserts that these drugs cause violence. Why is this being ignored? Look at the statistics of violence in schools. The rise is directly proportional to the rise of these drugs being prescribed.

Sample Size: 20 responses

Questions 53 through 56a were for all respondents.

Question 53 School leaders and public officials will use the results of this opinion in making policy on school violence. (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Maybe	61	42.4%
Very unlikely	43	29.9%
Probably	20	13.9%
Very likely	6	4.2%
	144	100.0%

Sample Size: 144 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

Question 54 Country where you live.
 

Country		Count		Percent
USA		118		91.47%
CAN		7		5.42%
MEX		1		0.77%
SGP	1		0.77%
PRI	1		0.77%
	129		99.2%

Sample Size: 129 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

Question 54-2

State where you live
 

State		Count		Percent
AK		1		0.76%
AL		21		16.03%
AZ		1		0.76%
CA	10		7.63%
CO	1		0.76%
FL	5		3.81%
GA	5		3.81%
IA	1		0.76%
IL	3		2.29%
IN	17		12.97%
KS	1		0.76%
KY	1		0.76%
MA	2		1.52%
MD	3		2.29%
MI	3		2.29%
MN	7		5.34%
NC	2		1.52%
NE	1		0.76%
NJ	3		2.29%
NM	1		0.76%
NY	2		1.52%
OH	2		1.52%
PA	5		3.81%
PR	1		0.76%
SC	4		3.05%
TN	2		1.52%
TX	13		9.92%
VA	1		0.76%
WA	1		0.76%
WV	2		1.52%
BC Canada	2		1.52%
NS Canada	3		2.29%
ON Canada	4		3.05%
	131		99.87%

Sample Size: 131 responses

Question 55a Instructions: Clear and concise [General Question: Please help us improve our survey. Give us your opinion on each of the statements below:]:
 

	Poor	Fair	Average	Good	Excellent
Instructions: Clear and concise	0	0	10	64	59
Questions: Easily understood	1	3	19	66	44
Format: Attractive, uncluttered	2	3	19	50	59
Length: Not too long	2	23	22	49	37
Topics: Appropriate	1	4	11	47	70
Subject: Covered well	3	6	15	50	59
Navigation: Easy to get around	0	4	8	48	73
Needed: Serves a good purpose	5	3	6	36	80

Sample Size: 144 responses

Question 55b

Please make any specific suggestions for improving our survey:

• Please put more cultural questions on here. Even people who don't realize their kids are listening to the gangster rap should realize it is out there and influencing behavior. Even If the answers don't matter, it will still get some parents to thinking.

• Use more boxes for comments... a person answering the survey should be able to comment on any question they feel they can't answer without using their own words.

• instead of jumping straight from ''agree'' to ''disagree'', make a ''sometimes agree'' option. I found myself wanting to see a ''probably'' or ''Probably not'' button for some of my answers. The choices given are too restricting to express my views.

• Don't change a thing.

• THE BEST WAY TO KEEP PSYCHOTIC'S? IN REMISSION IS TO LET THEM TALK...AND KEEP OUT OF THEIR TROUBLED MINDS.....

• When mentioning ''schools'' certial grade levels make a difference in what may be considered threatening or violence, to my first grader seeing everything on tv these days will re-peat almost everything not intending or knowing its a threat of violence.high school age kids would have the more intelligence to plan violence than a first or third grader. thanks , good job.

• n/a

• Add to the survey those that teach in a church setting. I get a lot of fed back from the children in the church on violence in the school and how they feel about it. Most have told me that if they mention religion or church in school that they will be beaten up. These are children from age 6-16. I would like to see a survey from this prespective also.

• I know that violence in schools are getting worse each day. I really wish that people would realize that it's not policy or rules that are needed, but God is needed so desperately in our schools. God Bless Everyone.

• I thought your survey was great!

• The survey was fine.

• none

• i would have more questions put in for those who have just graduated or have been out of school many years the same problems have alway been there they are just getting worse

• Some of the questions are too personal. I don't like to use an unsecure page to supply personal information

• Personally I get sick of hearing that the whole reason that teens at this way is because of the shows they watch and the music they listen to. It's just a way for parents and educaters to put the blame on anyone but themselves. My parents raised me to know right and wrong and to know what will happen to me when I break the rules.

• Put more areas for people to voice their opinion.

• none

• Try to put acountability back into the lives of the kids the bad kids just get worse being treated like innocent children who need understanding Bring the bible and god back into the schools the rod of correction never hurt as much as the life in prision is going to

• make more specific questions such as: what do you think should be done,- because sometimes several answers apply

• Like I suggested in another answer, a question asking the person being surveyed to describe their school environment would be really helpful in improving the purpose of this survey - after all, if a trend or trends can be identified from the results of this survey, a key PROBLEM can be identified, and we are one step closer to finding adequate solutions to reducing school violence. There is probably not a concrete answer, but hopefully efforts like this one will cover most of the bases.

• theres no need for suggestions ecept,lighten up on the huge, not understandable, words

• i like it

• on every question...it should have a comment section...so that you can comment on the question if it doesn't fully go along with you answere.

• People's opinions are about our Constitutional rights are irrelevant. It doesn't matter whether 99.9% of the population is against the right to keep and bear arms -- it is a right nonetheless. Therefore there's no good reason to ask whether someone approves of banning handguns, any more than there would be to ask whether someone approves of forcibly sending all Blacks back to Africa for the purpose of crime reduction.

• make it shorter

• add more colour.. make it more attractive

• some kids in lower grades maybe won't be able to understand the words if you use big words

• Word the questions more appropriately. For example: Does/would having an officer on school grounds help reduce school crime? (select one) The choices are "yes", "no", and "Don't know". If the school crime is caused exclusively by minority students whom the federal government is subsidizing to move into and area of town they normally couldn't affor to move into, then putting a policeman on campus to deal with 2 or 3 people isn't the answer to school violence, in our case. Of couse, the parents, of any group, who work hard to get their families into good neighborhoods are generally going to do a better job of instilling discipline, courtesy, respect, etc. into their children. Those consistently given a free ride do not. Ask if parents feel that minority children are dealt with more softly that white children. Ask if parents feel that educators are afraid to deal with minority problem childen because of political repurcussions. What they should be doing is living entirely with the concept of community, neighborhood schools. If you don't live there, you don't go there. People by homes to get into specific school districts. When the government intercedes to put people in an area where they cannot achieve to on their own, it is good for no one. Ask specific questions about the race/ethnic group of the young criminals. Ask about the general quality of the education - which is pathetic. Ask if they thought teaching the Constitution would help children have some sort of concept of the rights and liberties we enjoy due to the sacrifices of our Founding Fathers.

• I think that you should take all these comments and try to get the government to change the schools so students can feel safe and respected. I think that these comments should form a type of group for schools

• um nothing its a good survey

• nothin except 4 the people who donm't no much wont really help u and that the smart ass s will just lie

• Hopefully this wasn't a waste of my time. I hope something will be done about school violece, and that my input actually will make a difference. Thank you.

• shorten

• Talk more about popularity as class segregator issue.

• the answers need to be more general to fit ALL situations

• Ask people specific traits about the people they knew who committed violence and/or threatened it. Are they on drugs (street/ psychiatric) do they drink, etc.

• Ask people specific traits about the people they knew who committed violence and/or threatened it. Are they on drugs (street/ psychiatric) do they drink, etc.

Sample Size: 144 responses
 
 

Question 56a Will you commit to tell just 3 of your best friends about this survey? (select one)
 

	Count	Percent
Yes	94	71.75%
No	37	28.24
	131	99.99%

Sample Size: 131 responses. Responses may not total 100.0% due to rounding.

 Question 56b

If you said, "No", will you please tell us why? Thanks:

• im lazy

• Have trouble forwarding mail from my email

• REAL BUSY LATELY!

• Friends would think it corny and no one I know would bother to fill it out. They would say what's the use. No one will really care.

• Its a wast of time

• my friends will lie. And not take this as serious as I do.

• I FOUND THIS BY ''PER CHANCE''....

• no time

• cause they wont do it and im bored.

• Because I don't have that many online friends.

• I will not commit to it. I will try to do so.

• I Already sent it to my mailing list

• I don't think my friends are interested in it.

• Don't have time

• no time

• I don't like to spam people, even for things I think are a good cause. Maybe if there was a way to add the email addresses of three friends to the survey and have an official mail sent to them, I would do it. Only if I was assured that their address would be used that one time only, though.

• No

• I am too lazy and even if I said I would I would forget over nigt and never think another thing about it.

• IM TO BUSY!!!! IM TO BUSY!!!! IM TO BUSY!!!! IM TO BUSY!!!! IM TO BUSY!!!! IM TO BUSY!!!! IM TO BUSY!!!!

• I don't have any school aged friends that I know have e-mail, and I don't know many e-mail addresses

• They are apathetic and unconcerned about the subject of school violence.

• they probably won't do it

• will probably forget

• they wouldn't care

• Because it doesn't deal with the real issues.

• Most of my friends, like myself, just graduated from high school, and I honestly don't think they'd take the time to fill out the survey. My apologies. Thank you, :o)

• It's ay night, and I'll probably forget.

• when I get 3 friends I will tell them

• Most of my friends don't have a computer so it wouldn't do any good.

• because I know my friends wouldn't spend this much time doing a survey.They are not very liberal. They are pretty sheilded from the world.

• they won't care about this

• because i don't want to they will think it is gay probably just like me except i did it 4 a friend

• Don't have the time.

Return to Survey Results