In-school violence: without borders and without horizon

Panousis Giannis

Greek

English

In-school violence, confrontation proposals

Newspaper / Magazine article

Researchers.

1 - 20 pages

The current document belongs to a professor of criminology of University of Athens and it is published in a relevant magazine. It refers to the in-school violence problem that concerns types of crimes taking place at school. It shouldn’t be confused with anti-social or criminal actions of students occurred outside school. It also mentions that the problem of in-school violence in Greece came into surface after 2 serious incidents taking place a few years ago that were magnified by the Media. This doesn’t mean, according to the writer, that the problem is getting bigger in our country.
It continues with some proposals on how to handle the problem. These proposals concern institutional measures, like creation of a sector for research of in school violence at the Institute of anti criminal policy, the assignment of a municipal intermediary that will connect the school with the local society, the foundation of a n Asylum comity (that will manage critical situations), in every school and the operation of the Greek observatory fro violence. It goes on to list the short termed actions that could be taken by the ministry of education, the school management, the teaching body, the parents, the bodies (scientific, social, OTA etc) the media, the cultural clubs and so on.
Some more measures are listed that are thought to be utopian.
These include, schools being, an essential link between socialization and professional life, a vital space in the modern metropolitan scenery, students being an active factor in the learning process, teachers being also parental and friendly figures at the same time, especially in hard situations and last but not least the state being a helper and not an obstacle to the dreams f the young. Special anti violence programs are also suggested.

The current document is an article by a University professor specializing in sociology, that is published in the magazine “Criminology”, that presents the scool bullying phenomenon from a social prism.
It approaches it through a comprehensive and deep analysis, in an effort to clarify if the problem is inflating in out country suggest solutions. These are:
a. institutional measures
b. short term measures
c. long term measures
d. special anti violence programs
From the personal point of view of the author, the most easily achievable measures are the short term ones. These concern people that are directly involved in the educational process (like ministry of education, the teachers, the parents, the school management etc) as well as others like the media, cultural clubs etc. Some of the most important suggestions are:
Special educational “broad horizon” programs, that are modern and attractive.
School management must be very cautious not to stigmatize students and must offer recreational time to the daili schedule as well as encourage initiative.
The teachers must take care not to put pressure on the student by means of grades and must avoid having a ruler/ruled relationship with the students. They should inspire the students with their way of live.
Parents should avoid any kind of inter family violence and help their children understand that studying must be the result of self control and not of threat.
The bodies should have an essential relationship with the school life. (organize lectures, invite students in projects involving science, research etc)
The media should adapt their schedules to the the life of the students and should offer educational and recreational programs as well as anti school violence spots.

http://www.giannispanousis.gr/docs/GPANOUSIS_0108.pdf

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