Week 2, Blog #3 School Violence and Social Capital

Discuss some of the main points of the research on violence in schools as well as the relationship between school violence, social capital, and possible future delinquent behavior in youth.

Triangle:
I was amazed by the background given by Dr. Cornell in regards to the statistics of the early nineties for violence in schools. During my time at ASU I’ve had it pointed out by statistic professors to be careful when reading research. We’ve been taught to look for peer reviewed articles and how if the method of research is not properly established the findings are not valid. Dr. Cornell established that the scientific basis of those studies were invalid. Yet the approach of zero tolerance was established based on those published statistics (Research Channel, 2008).

I like Dr. Cornell’s approach of establishing an almost metered reference when addressing school violence. It really should be based on the individual and not an all out witch hunt. The downside of this is that when students are dealt with on an individual basis a response of privileged circumstances can be used when a person feels that that were dealt with too harshly.

The article really surprised me when it brought to light that although it was expected that greater participation in school-sponsored activities would be associated with lower rates of violence, the results refuted that prediction (Wright, & Fitzpatrick, 2006). Although the research stated that the athletes may have included skirmishes during play thereby skewing the results, the researches indicated that it would still play a role in violent encounters. I’m so used reading or watching stories of athletes that overcame inner city violence, gangs and drug activities through participation in school sports.

Square:
According to the article, creation or restoration of safe sidewalks, parks and other public areas will enable adolescents and adults in neighborhoods to establish or reestablish social connections and ties with each other, creating new opportunities for the benefits of social capital as both an individual and group good (Wright, & Fitzpatrick, 2006). I can understand how a sense of community can help combat violence. When you know your neighbors you can understand them and have a greater sense of empathy. Having that empathy can be a preventive efficacy is helping those employ the golden rule.

Circle:
The results suggested that cooperative and supportive ties with significant others in these domains were a means of suppressing violent outcomes even in the face of objective disadvantage for adolescents. It appears that the importance of interpersonal trust and social control garnered from constructive and cohesive relationships overshadowed the more tangible resources available in family, school and neighborhood domains (Wright, & Fitzpatrick, 2006). When we speak of resilience and strength amongst our poorest population it is the familiar ties that bond and hold the constructs of the people. I love the fact that it’s not money, or outside resources that help improve a community’s violence rate but rather the people within the community coming together as a unit to take their neighborhoods back.

Research Channel (Producer) (2008, February 21). Student Threats of Violence. [Youtube video]. Retrieved July 14, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXiK0A43Xk4

Wright, & Fitzpatrick (2006). Social capital and adolescent violent behavior: Correlates of fighting and weapon use among secondary school students. Social Forces, 84(3), 1435-1453.