Is Banning the Answer?: Educators' Responses to Student Exprression of Violence
Graduation Date
Fall 2004
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program Name
Education
Program Director
Madalienne F. Peters, EdD
Abstract
Despite attempts to prevent it, children's exposure to violence is inevitable. Students must be equipped with strategies to deal with the violence that they are exposed to. The purpose of this study is to investigate the strategies that teachers use in response to student expression of violence in the classroom. The research literature reveals a tendency to ban violent expression because of a lack of knowledge, training, and resources available for teacher use. In this study, teachers of grades ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade were interviewed about their responses to student expression of violence. Results of the study revealed a tendency to ban violent expression, and a contradiction between what the subjects felt would be most beneficial for students and what was actually carried out in the classroom. Results of the study suggest a need to educate teachers about the negative implications of banning and equip them with the training necessary to respond appropriately to student expression of violence.