STUDENTS AGAINST VIOLENCE EVERYWHERE ~ FACTS & FIGURES

• SAVE FACTS & FIGURES

• SCHOOL VIOLENCE FACTS & FIGURES

• SCHOOL VIOLENCE/YOUTH VIOLENCE ARTICLES

SAVE FACTS & FIGURES

• SAVE is a program created by students for students everywhere. An estimated 2,000 students join SAVE each month. The average number of members per chapter is 108 students. (Quick Facts About Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE), 2007)

• The National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) is a nonprofit organization that is the national clearinghouse for SAVE (Quick Facts About Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE), 2007)

• The following percentages show the types of registered chapters: 33% are high schools 29% are middle schools 29% are elementary schools 9% are other organizations (Quick Facts About Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE), 2007)

• SAVE is a student-initiated program that promotes nonviolence within schools and communities. SAVE provides education about the effects and consequences of violence and helps provide safe activities for students, parents and communities. (The Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions About Students Against Violence Everywhere, (SAVE), 2007)

• To initiate a SAVE chapter, one should first obtain permission from the school principal. Then recruit 1-2 teachers, parents, or school resource officers to serve as advisors. Advise the student council and announce the first meeting to the student body about the first meeting. The free SAVE sampler can be obtained from the National Association of SAVE. It includes a registration form, a sample constitution, and step-by-step suggestions for beginning a chapter. (The Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions About Students Against Violence Everywhere, (SAVE), 2007)

• Angelena Bynum, a student, and Gary Weart, a teacher, from West Charlotte High School (NC), initiated the formation of Students Against Violence Everywhere in 1989 in memory of Alex Orange, a student from their school. Alex was shot while trying to break up a fight at a party. (The Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions About Students Against Violence Everywhere, (SAVE), 2007)

• SAVE can be implemented as a curriculum in elementary schools, or as a club in middle schools, high schools, colleges, and community organizations . (The Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions About Students Against Violence Everywhere, (SAVE), 2007)

• In 1995, SAVE was bestowed the President's Service Award (the nation's highest volunteer award) for the dedication and determination in keeping the message of nonviolence known and keeping our schools and communities safe. In addition, the 2001-2007 SAVE Youth Advisory Board members received individual Presidential Student Service Awards for their work with SAVE through the YAB. (SAVE Essentials Manual, National Association of SAVE, 2007).

• The SAVE approach in elementary schools integrates school safety information, knowledge and skills throughout the current course of study. (The Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions About Students Against Violence Everywhere, (SAVE), 2007)

• The SAVE approach at the middle and high school levels and community organizations is through chapters that can meet before, during or after school hours. Chapters can meet monthly or bi-weekly. (The Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions About Students Against Violence Everywhere, (SAVE), 2007)

• SAVE members participate in numerous activities including conflict management, SAVE week, community volunteer work, SAVE rallies with other chapters, violence free pledge drives, and fundraisers. They also speak to other school students, attend the annual SAVE Summit, serve as a SAVE Youth Advisory Board member, design t-shirts, and advocate for nonviolence everywhere. (The Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions About Students Against Violence Everywhere, (SAVE), 2007)

• SAVE advisors can be teachers, school counselors, parents, administrators, school resource officers, or other interested adults approved by the school or community organization. (The National Association of SAVE, 2007)

• Successful SAVE service project ideas include: fight free days, dances, reading to the elderly, violence prevention workshops, school and community beautification, child abuse awareness, adopting a family, assisting Habitat for Humanity. (SAVE Essentials Manual, (SAVE), 2007) http://www.nationalsave.org/main/essentials.php

• SAVE has a triad approach in addressing violence in schools and communities. This approach includes: 1) conflict management, 2) crime prevention, and 3) service to the community (SAVE Essentials Manual, (SAVE ), 2007) http://www.nationalsave.org/main/essentials.php

• The colors of SAVE are purple and orange. The color purple is used because it is the universal color for nonviolence and peace. The color orange is used in remembrance of Alex Orange. (SAVE Essentials Manual, (SAVE), 2007) http://www.nationalsave.org/main/essentials.php
• Additional SAVE Facts - SAVE Fact Sheet

• The National School Safety and Security Services reports the following school related violent deaths per school year:
  • 2006-2007: Thirty-two school associated deaths. Another 171 additional non death high profile incidents including shootings, stabbings and riots.
  • 2005-2006: Twenty-seven school associated deaths. Another 323 additional non death high profile incidents including shootings, stabbings and riots.
  • 2004-2005: Thirty-nine school associated deaths. Another 158 additional non-death shootings and other incidents of high-profile violence, including stabbings and riots.
  • 2003-2004: Forty-nine school associated deaths; 278 additional non-death high profile incidents including shootings, stabbings and riots.
  • 2002-2003: Sixteen school associated deaths
  • 2001-2002: Seventeen school deaths
  http://www.schoolsecurity.org/trends/school_violence.html

• Six and one half percent of students surveyed reported that they had carried a weapon on school property within the last 30 days, while 18% said they carried a weapon anywhere during the past month. (2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results, Center for Disease Control, 2006) http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/

• Six percent of students had not gone to school on one or more of the 30 days preceding the survey because they felt they would be unsafe at school or on their way to or from school. (2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results, Center for Disease Control, 2006) http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs

• In the Youth Risk Behavior Survey of students in grades 9-12, some 8% of students reported being threatened or injured with a weapon, such as a gun, knife, or club, on school property. (Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2006, National Center for Education Statistics, 2005) http://nces.ed.gov/programs/crimeindicators/ind_04.asp

• 14% of students ages 12-18 reported that they had been bullied at school. Fewer students reported bullying in schools with supervision by police officers, security officers, or staff hallway monitors. (Student Reports of Bulling, National Center for Education Statistics, 2005) http://www.schoolsafety.us/pubfiles/school_crime_and_violence_statistics.pdf

• Nationwide, 29.8 percent of students had their property (e.g., car, clothing, or books) stolen or deliberately damaged on school property one or more times during the twelve months preceding the survey. (2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results, Center for Disease Control, 2006). http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/

• In 2003, 21 % of students ages 12-18 reported that street gangs were present at their schools. Students in urban schools were the most likely to report the presence of street gangs at their school (31%), followed by suburban students (18%) and rural students (12%). (Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2005, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2005) http://www.schoolsafety.us/pubfiles/school_crime_and_violence_statistics.pdf

• In 2003-2004, 42% of middle school principals reported that student bullying occurred on a daily or weekly basis, as compared to 21% of high schools and 24% of primary schools. (Findings from the School Survey on Crime and Safety: National Center for Education Statistics, 2006) http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007302rev

• In 2005, 19 percent of students in grades 9-12 reported they had carried a weapon anywhere, and about 6 percent reported they had carried a weapon on school property (Indicators of School Crime and Safety, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2006). http://nces.ed.gov/programs/crimeindicators/ind_13.asp

• In 2003, 12 % of students ages 12-18 reported that someone at school had used hate-related words against them. During the same period, some 36 percent of students ages 12-18 saw hate-related graffiti at school. (Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2004, National Center for Education Statistics, 2004) http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/crime_safe04/

• From 1998 to 2002, teachers were victims of approximately 234,000 nonfatal crimes at school annually, more than 90,000 of them violent crimes (rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault).(Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2004, National Center for Education Statistics, 2004) http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/crime_safe04/

• In 2004, students ages 12-18 were victims of about 1.4 million nonfatal crimes (theft plus violent crime) while they were at school and about 1.3 million crimes while they were away from school. (Indicators of School Crime and Safety, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2006) http://nces.ed.gov/programs/crimeindicators/ind_02.asp

• Twenty-five percent of students in grades 9-12 reported that someone had offered, sold, or given them an illegal drug on school property in the 12 months prior to the survey. (Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2006, National Center for Education Statistics, 2006) http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/crime_safe04/

• Seventy-one percent of thirteen- to fourteen-year-olds say sexual violence or other physical violence is a "very" or "somewhat" big concern for their peers and themselves. (National Survey of Adolescents and Young Adults: Sexual Health, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experiences, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2003) http://www.kff.org/youthhivstds/3218-index.cfm

• Over half (51%) of youths aged 12 to 17 reported that it would be fairly easy to very easy for them to obtain marijuana if they wanted some. Around one quarter reported it would be easy to get cocaine (24.9%) or crack (25.3%). (Results from the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, 2006) http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k5NSDUH/2k5results.htm

• Most violence-related behaviors decreased during 1991--2003; however, students increasingly were likely to miss school because they felt too unsafe to attend. (Centers for Disease Control, 2004) http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5329a1.htm

• In 2003, nearly one in 10 high school students reported being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property during the preceding 12 months. (Centers for Disease Control, 2004) http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5329a1.htm

• Homicide and suicide are responsible for approximately one fourth of deaths among persons aged 10--24 years in the United States. (Centers for Disease Control, 2004) http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5329a1.htm

• Male students were more likely than female students to report violent victimization at school. (The Condition of Education, 2003, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003) http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2003/2003067.pdf

• Black students were more likely to report having experienced any form of victimization than were White and Hispanic students. (The Condition of Education, 2003, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003) http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2003/2003067.pdf

• High school girls are more likely than boys to consider (23.6 percent versus 14.2 percent) and attempt (11.2 percent versus 6.2 percent) suicide. (The Formative Years: Pathways to Substance Abuse Among Girls and Young Women Ages 8- 22, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 2003) http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/templates/articles.asp?articleid=336&zoneid=31

• Seventy-one percent of thirteen- to fourteen-year-olds say sexual violence or other physical is a “very” or “somewhat” big concern for their peers and themselves. (National Survey of Adolescents and Young Adults: Sexual Health, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experiences, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2003) http://www.kff.org/youthhivstds/3218-index.cfm

• Over eighty-eight percent of victimizations that occurred at school to 12-through 18-year-olds were not reported to the police. (National Center for Education Statistics, 2002) http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/2002331.pdf

• Student reports of experiencing bullying at school were similar regardless of the presence of security measures such as security guards, staff hallway monitors, and metal detectors at the school. (National Center for Education Statistics, 2002) http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/2002331.pdf

• Of the 3,657 expulsions for bringing a firearm to school, almost half (forty-eight percent) were students in high school, twenty-eight percent were students in junior high, and twenty-four percent were elementary school students. (Report on State / Territory Implementation of the Gun-Free Schools Act, U.S. Department of Education, 2002) http://www.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/gfsa/GFSA2000-2001.pdf

• Eighty-one percent of teens surveyed recently by the Opinion Research Corp. International say they are more willing than in the past to report students if they believe that there is a threat to school safety. Only 26% say they would tell a parent if they learned of a school violence threat that they thought was real, but 43% would turn to a teacher and 42% to a principal. (Opinion Research Study sponsored by Chevrolet, 2002) http://www.nationalsave.org/main/02survey.php

• Two-thirds of young people have been teased or gossiped about in a mean way at least once in the past month and one-forth have had this experience five times or more. (Youth & Violence: Students Speak Out For A More Civil Society, The Colorado Trust and Families and Work Institute, 2002) http://www.familiesandwork.org

• Almost thirty-two percent of small school teachers and forty-six percent of large school teachers think a serious violent incident is very or somewhat likely to happen in the next two years at their school. (Sizing Things Up: What Parents, Teachers, and Students Think About Large and Small High Schools, Public Agenda, 2002) http://www.publicagenda.org/specials/smallschools/smallschools.htm

• Forty-six percent of students in large high schools and thirty-four percent in small high schools say they have seen "serious fights" at their high school at least monthly since they have been there. (Sizing Things Up: What Parents, Teachers, and Students Think About Large and Small High Schools, Public Agenda, 2002) http://www.publicagenda.org/specials/smallschools/smallschools.htm

• Almost ten percent of traditional public school teachers reported being threatened with injury in the past twelve months. (National Center for Education Statistics, 2002) http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch

• Eighty-seven percent of teens said the major reason for school shootings is to "get back at those who have hurt them." (Lethal Violence In Schools, Alfred University, 2001) http://www.alfred.edu/teenviolence/shootings.html

• Teenagers are two times more likely than others to be victims of violent crime. (Our Vulnerable Teenagers: Their Victimization, Its Consequences, and Directions for Prevention and Intervention, National Council on Crime and Delinquency and the National Center for Victims of Crime, 2002) http://www.ncvc.org/teens/

• Approximately one in three high school students say that their school has a serious problem with school bullies. (Sizing Things Up: What Parents, Teachers, and Students Think About Large and Small High Schools, Public Agenda, 2002) http://www.publicagenda.org/specials/smallschools/smallschools.htm

• In large schools (1,500 students or more) forty-one percent of parents say "too many students bully and harass other students" in their school, while only twenty-seven percent of small schools (500 students or fewer) share their point of view. (Sizing Things Up: What Parents, Teachers, and Students Think About Large and Small High Schools , Public Agenda, 2002) http://www.publicagenda.org/specials/smallschools/smallschools.htm

• Overall, Hispanic male and female and black male and female students were significantly more likely than white students to have missed school because they felt unsafe. (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002) http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5104a1.htm

• Eighty-two percent of students felt that students could work out problems without fighting. ("Urban and Elementary School Students' Perceptions of Fighting Behavior and Concerns for Personal Safety", Journal of School Health, American of School Health Association, 2002) http://www.ashaweb.org/

SCHOOL VIOLENCE/YOUTH VIOLENCE ARTICLES

• Articles on Bullying

• A Comprehensive Approach to School Violence Prevention. No one strategy or program holds all the answers for any school, and what's right for one school may not be right for another. This primer is a guide designed to assist school personnel and community members in creating safer learning environments using a comprehensive approach. 22 pages. (PDF download)

• Keeping School Violence at Bay
  Source: USA Today
  Written by: Greg Toppo
  Published: June 28, 2004

  Five years after the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado, safety advocates say the nation's public schools are as safe as ever. But some observers say the war on terrorism is siphoning funding and attention from school safety just as rising gang violence threatens progress made in the 1990s. While several indicators show that overall violence is dropping, 48 people died in school-related violence in the 2003-2004 school year, according to one tally — more than in any year in the past decade.

• Gang Related Murders Soaring
  Source: Long Beach Press-Telegram, Long Beach, CA
  Written by: Beth Barrett
  Published: June 1, 2004
  
  While funding of juvenile programs was being cut, gang activity has been spreading rapidly from Los Angeles to the rest of the country, and homicides linked to juveniles in gangs have soared from 692 nationally in 1999 to more than 1,100 in 2002, according to a recent study, Caught in the Crossfire: Arresting Gang Violence by Investing in Kids.
  

• Gangs Eye Kids as Young as 7
  Source: The Washington Times, Washington, DC
  Written by: Jon Ward
  Published: May 18, 2004
  

  Gangs in Northern Virginia are a growing threat to residents' safety and are recruiting children as young as 7 years old, law enforcement officials said. … Gangs, which police say are growing in size and boldness, usually commit violent crimes against other gangs, but bystanders are at risk.