In this blog post, we will look at the seriousness of the problem of school violence and consider the roles that students, teachers, and parents should play.
School violence in Korea is no longer a minor growing pain that children experience. The reality of school violence among teenagers is becoming more serious every day, and it is expanding to include violent crimes. The number of cases is also increasing, and if you are a student, you have probably witnessed or heard about school violence from your friends at least once. This situation does not end with individual problems, but can have a serious impact on the family, community, and even the entire country. The emotional and psychological scars caused by school violence can last a lifetime, and this can make it difficult for teenagers to adapt to society even as adults.
As such, school violence is increasingly emerging as a major social problem, but the rate of students reporting school violence remains low. As you might expect, the main reason why students do not report even the school violence they have witnessed is the fear that they themselves might become victims of school violence. In addition, there are many cases where people turn a blind eye to a problem because they are worried about getting involved in something that is not their business. There are also many students who do not report school violence because they do not know how to solve the problem. And even if students do report school violence, some educators try to cover up the incident for fear of damaging the school’s image. It can be said that the wrong handling of educators with insufficient qualifications encouraged students to condone school violence. The reasons for the aforementioned passiveness seem to have been able to be resolved to a sufficient extent if the educators had taken appropriate measures. This suggests that educators should put the safety and mental health of students first, rather than simply covering up problems.
To increase the reporting rate of school violence, it is necessary to establish a reliable school violence response system. If there is a guarantee that both the victim and the reporter can be protected, students who witness school violence will be more likely to report the violence. One way is to keep the reporter’s identity completely confidential or to take measures to prevent any retaliation. To do so, it is also necessary to strengthen the punishment of the perpetrators. And we need to help change the perception that school violence is no longer someone else’s problem and that I could be the victim. This change in perception must be accompanied by continuous education for teachers and parents, and it is something that should be discussed and improved not only in schools but also in homes and communities.
In order to increase the reporting rate, students must know where and how to report school violence. Gathering students in the auditorium and giving a speech is not a desirable way to increase the reporting rate of school violence. Nowadays, it is possible to communicate in real time with people on the other side of the world through social media. The power of social media is stronger than you might think. Using social media to promote reporting is a good way to go. It can be a much more efficient way to solve school violence than wasting paper and handing out flyers or spending time in the auditorium. These online platforms can guarantee anonymity and create an environment where students can report without any pressure.
Reducing the number of cases of school violence is also very important as the most fundamental measure to increase the reporting rate. School violence cannot be solved with formal policies such as simply deploying school police. Since the sensitive emotions of children in adolescence are intertwined, a process of problem solving through sufficient communication should be intended. Placing counselors in each school to focus on listening to students can also play a big role in reducing school violence. Along with this, teachers should build a trusting relationship with students to create an environment where students can talk about their worries and problems without hiding them. In addition, schools should periodically strengthen school violence prevention education and help students gain a deeper understanding of what school violence is and its effects.
Finally, it is important to raise awareness and prevent school violence at home. Parents should talk to their children to understand the problems they are facing at school and be ready to intervene immediately if necessary. This plays an important role in providing a safe learning environment for students through cooperation between schools and families. When these efforts are combined, school violence can be addressed more effectively.
