Gm. Morrison et al., SCHOOL VIOLENCE TO SCHOOL SAFETY - REFRAMING THE ISSUE FOR SCHOOL-PSYCHOLOGISTS, School psychology review, 23(2), 1994, pp. 236-256
Although issues and problems related to school violence have been indi
rectly addressed by school psychologists through crisis intervention p
rograms, suicide prevention/intervention, and individual programs for
antisocial and aggressive youth, school psychologists have not played
a major role in the current national school violence agenda. This limi
ted direct involvement is related to the fact that leadership on this
issue has been provided historically by professionals and researchers
in the juvenile justice field and, more recently, the public health fi
eld. To date there has been limited articulation of a rationale for re
lating school violence to the roles and functions of school psychologi
sts and other educators. This article presents a rationale for the inv
olvement of school psychologists in addressing concerns about violence
that occurs in schools. A linkage between violent incidents and more
general school safety is made. When school violence concerns are refra
med to develop resiliency in youth to help them cope with the stresses
and risks associated with violence, then school psychologists will ha
ve much to offer as schools address this issue.