The seeming increase of violence in American society and its schools has become a pressing issue. Some researchers argue that the American education system mirrors the dynamics of society. The articles in this book address the following issues: the extent of violence in American schools; the forms that violence takes; its root causes; the effects of violence on students; teachers, administrators, and the learning process; strategies to counteract violence; and responsibility for dealing with violence in the schools. The following articles in part 1 describe the problem of school violence: (1) "Violence in the Classroom: A Teacher's Perspective" (Mary Hatwood Futrell); (2) "Weapon-Carrying in Schools" (Jennifer C. Friday); (3) "The Anatomy of Gangs" (Allan M. Hoffman and Randal W. Summers); and (4) "Gangs and School Safety" (Kenneth S. Trump). Causes of school violence are examined in articles included in part 2: (5) "Media and Television Violence: Effects on Violence, Aggression, and Antisocial Behaviors in Children" (Daniel John Derksen and Victor C. Strasburger); and (6) "The Influence of Child Abuse and Family Violence on Violence in the Schools" (Jeffrey J. Haugaard and Margaret M. Feerick). School security and other legal issues are the focus of articles in part 3: (7) "Critical Decisions, Critical Elements in an Effective School Security Program" (S. D. Vestermark, Jr.); and (8) "Legal and Policy Issues of School Violence" (Ivan B. Gluckman). Articles in part 4 describe general strategies for a less violent school environment: (9) "Safe Schools for All" (Gwendolyn J. Cooke); (10) "Communities, Schools, and Violence" (Deborah Prothrow-Stith and Sher Quaday); (11) "From Fight or Flight to Collaboration: A Framework for Understanding Individual and Institutional Development in the School" (Steven Brion-Meisels and Robert L. Selman); (12) "Learning to Care and to Be Cared For" (Nel Noddings); and (13) "Victims of Violence: Helping Kids Cope" (Melba F. Coleman). Specific approaches are highlighted in the fifth part: (14) "NEA's Perspective and Policies on Violence in the Schools" (Keith Geiger); (15) "Waging Peace in Our Schools: The Resolving Conflict Creatively Program" (Linda Lantieri, William DeJong, and Janet Dutrey); (16) "Strategies to Reduce School Violence: The New Mexico Center for Dispute Resolution" (Melinda Smith); (17) "The New York City Board of Education and Violence Prevention" (Ramon C. Cortines); (18) "The Virginia Model: School to Community Intervention Techniques to Prevent Violence" (Yvonne V. Thayer); and (19) "Violence in the Schools: The Texas Initiative" (Christie Bourgeois with an introduction by former Texas Governor Ann W. Richards). A community-based approach is described in the sixth part's single article, "Community Safety Zones: A Plan to Curb Urban Violence," by William Glasser. A subject and name index and information about the contributors are included. (Contains 92 references.) (LMI)