• Safety Tips:
• School Safety: A Program Scientifically Proven to Reduce Violence in Schools
• Personal Safety:"Call to Protect" Campaign Eases Family Fears
• Questions and Answers: Safety at Camp Pick-up
• Statistics: School Violence Part 2
• One Opinion: Open to Discussion

School Safety:

There are students across our nation who are living with the fear of school violence. There are also students who are involved in finding solutions to this perplexing problem. Students at the Marharishi School in Iowa have founded an organization, End School Violence Now, that is offering a solution which has been scientifically proven (many times) to reduce the root cause of violence.

End School Violence Now can help prevent future occurrences of violence as well as help students deal with it after it happens. End School Violence Now was able to help students in Columbine, Colorado when they met at PeaceQuest 2000: a Youth Summit in February. Chapters of this organization are growing across the nation in schools that are open to trying the approach, which relies on Transcendental Meditation techniques.

There is a $12.95 video available with a press packet that offers testimonials from educators nationwide, from inner-city schools to wealthy suburban environments, and includes research on how this program works. To order and to learn more about the End School Violence Now organization, visit their website at http://www.endschoolviolencenow.org/.

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Personal Safety:

It is only common sense that children thrive in homes that are safe, and if a parent is in danger then the child is at risk, whether physically or emotionally. "Every single day, 5,000 women become victims of domestic violence. And their most powerful weapon against this atrocity may be sitting right in your own home -- waiting to make a difference," says Susan Sarandon, a spokesperson for the "CALL to PROTECT" nationwide campaign.

Your used cellular phone can save the life of a person at risk of violence. When you donate a used cellular phone, regardless of its condition or age, it will be re-conditioned and programmed to dial only 911, and a shelter's number. These phones are given to victims of violence who are in danger, without charge and with free emergency calling. They often then feel able to risk leaving their homes, to feel safe enough to pick up their children at school or go to the grocery store. Contact http://www.donateaphone.com or http://www.wirelessfoundation.com for more information.

Questions from Readers, Answers from Experts:

Q: I am worried about my ex-spouse trying to pick up my son from summer day camp. I cannot tell the camp director that no one but me can pick him up because I sometimes need to work late unexpectedly and a friend will have to pick him up. How can I help prevent any problems?

A: First, ask them what their pick-up policy is, as many camps and day care centers now have formal procedures. Then, be sure the camp director and your son's counselors are aware that there is a problem with your ex-spouse. Show them a photo of your ex-spouse. It is not unreasonable to request that anyone (other than you) who tries to take your child home show a picture id, and that their name be on an approved-for-pick-up list that you would provide.

Also, some camps issue matching identification cards to the camper and the parent so that whoever is coming to pick the child up must have the proper camp-issued identification pass.

The key with these safety techniques is that the camp counselor must be aware of the seriousness of the situation so that they aren't intimidated if an older adult objects to showing identification. Parents often smile and say something like, "Oh, see, he knows me! It's really okay," or even "I left it in the car but I really am his aunt...." A camp counselor needs to be able to respond that the procedure needs to be complied with, and be empowered to seek the director for assistance.

Also, your child should know that if you really sent someone else to pick him up that that person would know the "secret code word" that you and your child share.

Q: Are children living in homes located close to schoolyards in greater danger from lurking predators than children a few blocks away?

A: If you have any verifiable information to answer this question, we’d like to hear your response. Please click here to contact us. Watch here to learn what we find out. If You Have A Question or Answer, Let Us Know. E-Mail

Statistics:

Violent Deaths at School

Number of children and adults who died nationwide on public or private K-12 school property or at school-sponsored events by any violent method, such as murder or suicide.

School Year 1992-3 = 55
School Year 1993-4 = 51
School Year 1994-5 = 20
School Year 1995-6 = 35
School Year 1996-7 = 25
School Year 1997-8 = 43
School Year 1998-9 = 26

Source: Justice Dept. of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency: National School Safety Center. Report available at http://www.cjcj.org/schoolhousehype/shh2.html.

Open to Discussion – One Opinion:

Source: AP news articles

The U.S. government needs to respond more aggressively to the overseas abduction of American children because in only about 24 percent of the cases are the children returned or able to have visits from their "left behind" parents, according to a congressional report. There are over 1,000 international abduction cases per year.

The Hague Convention calls for abducted children to be returned to their place of habitual residence. It is generally agreed that the United States tries hard to repatriate abducted children who end up on American soil, but numerous foreign countries don't reciprocate, and their laws make it very challenging to enforce U. S. criminal laws.

This is a situation that requires more attention on the national level from our Congress and our government agencies. There is inadequate financial assistance to offset the expenses of a left-behind parent's costs, such as travel abroad, retaining a lawyer, and other fees.

To learn more about this topic, visit http://www.apbnews.com/newscenter/missing/stories/2000/02/10/
abductions0210_01.html .

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