According to a survey published by the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, about 9% of high school student respondents claimed that they had avoided school at least one day in the month prior because they felt they would be unsafe. This shows that violence in schools is a serious concern for students, teachers, and parents alike.
In response, many parents think about moving their children from public to private schools. But is violence in public schools vs. private schools really different? Here’s a look at what school violence is and the challenges that the two types of institutions face.
Overview of School Violence
School violence refers to violence that occurs in a school setting. There are several types of violence in private schools and public schools.
Bullying is one of them. Bullying involves using force, coercion, teasing, or threats to intimidate someone else. It’s unwanted and aggressive behavior that repeats or has the threat of repeating. It also involves a real or perceived power imbalance.
Connected to bullying is cyberbullying, which involves the use of electronic devices. It can include behavior like:
- Gossiping about another student on social media or via messages
- Sharing pictures without permission
- Aggressively teasing someone through email, text, or other electronic mediums
Physical violence in schools refers to any kind of physical aggression, as well as arson, theft, and the use of weapons. Verbal violence, in contrast, is similar to bullying in that the perpetrator humiliates or threatens another student with words.
Factors Influencing Violence in Schools
Socioeconomic factors impact the chances of school violence. Students who live in communities where crime rates are high can emulate the behavior of the adults around them.
Those who live in poverty tend to have other risk factors that could lead to violent behavior, including experiencing domestic abuse. Mental illness that isn’t addressed because of socioeconomic reasons is an issue as well.
School size can also impact violence. A school with more students is more likely to have a greater number of violent incidents. Large school buildings themselves are harder to monitor, too, so fights can begin without teachers or administrators getting involved quickly enough.
Schools with fewer students, by contrast, will likely have fewer instances of violent behavior, and the smaller school buildings can make such situations more manageable. Someone is more likely to intervene if an argument starts.
Funding is another major factor in school violence. Some institutions, including many public schools, don’t have the budget to address mental health concerns among students or to train staff on how to spot signs of less obvious violence.
They may not even be able to afford enough security guards, cameras, and other similar measures. Schools with more funding, such as private schools, can have more counselors available and security in place to help prevent violence.
Parental involvement also plays a role in violence in private schools as well as public ones. Typically, parents of students in private schools are very involved in their children’s education.
Public school parents are more likely to work longer hours and thus be unable to be as hands-on. Children and teens left to their own devices may resort to violence.
Comparing Violence in Private vs. Public Schools
Public schools serve a broad and diverse student population, which can sometimes lead to conflicts due to differences in backgrounds, perspectives, or community influences. Because these schools reflect their surrounding neighborhoods, they may also encounter challenges such as peer conflicts, disciplinary issues, or external influences affecting student behavior.
Private schools, on the other hand, often have more controlled environments with structured policies and disciplinary approaches. While conflicts still occur, these schools may have more flexibility in addressing issues quickly. However, differences in how violence is reported between public and private schools can make direct comparisons difficult, and underreporting in private schools remains a concern.
Common Misconceptions
One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to violence in private schools versus public schools is that the former is always safer. That’s not the case. Violence occurs in both school types, though it can look different.
In public schools, physical violence is more common, but private schools see many kinds of bullying. Often, the violence in private schools is more subtle, though no less harmful.
There also tend to be fewer instances of violence in private schools, leading people to believe that the students behave better overall. The answer could be that there are simply fewer students, so the chances of fights are lower.
Public schools have to answer to the local departments of education. As such, they have to report every incident that occurs on school grounds. That’s not the case with private schools. They aren’t required to answer to governing bodies, so reporting violence in private schools can be more lax.
Strategies to Reduce School Violence in Both Settings
Despite the differences between these two school types, addressing the problem head-on requires similar interventions. One of the steps to take is improving mental health resources. Even if private schools have the resources, they can’t helph if the students don’t have access to them.
Ensuring that at-risk children and teens get help requires participation from parents and the entire staff. Getting everyone involved helps keep vulnerable students from slipping through the cracks. That can happen in both private and public schools, especially if there are parental issues preventing the child from getting assistance.
Stronger security measures make a difference as well. Having security cameras at key locations, trained staff who can quickly intervene, and better access control at entrances can all help reduce violence.
Violence in private schools and public schools can be seriously reduced by establishing one school-wide goal: to create a welcoming and safe environment for everyone. One way to accomplish this aim is by implementing anti-bullying programs along with conflict resolution training.
Taking the First Step Toward Reducing School Violence
Undoubtedly, you will see violence in private schools and public schools, though it may happen for different reasons and in different ways. Fostering inclusivity and a positive school environment can make a difference.
At Rachel’s Challenge, we offer in-person and digital programs that can help your school take an important step toward creating a safer environment. Book an event to get started.
