ABSTRACT
People may view violence in schools as a discrete problem, to be addressed by school personnel without concern for broader social issues. The shootings at schools around the country during the last decade have led to a rush to rectify policies on student behavior-discipline more strictly enforced, zero tolerance for violence, and offenders banished to alternative schools. The buildings and grounds have been changed-bushes have been cut back, outside lighting increased, side doors kept locked at all times, and metal detectors installed at main entrances. We may be tempted to believe that we all agree on what school violence is-the use of guns to mow down classmates and teachers-and how to deal with it.
