Violence Prevention Preparation: A Survey of Colleges of Education and Departments of Teacher Education.

Surveys of teacher education programs at U.S. colleges and universities examined what is being done to prepare teachers to respond to school violence and participate in prevention programs. Questionnaires were mailed to department heads and deans of colleges and universities belonging to the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. The questionnaires examined attitudes and policies with respect to including violence prevention in the teacher education curriculum. They asked whether there was a single course in the teacher education curriculum that focused exclusively on violence prevention and intervention in schools; whether the institution sponsored workshops related to violence prevention; and if faculty and staff consulted on a local or state level regarding issues related to school violence. Specific topics addressed included conflict resolution, peer mediation training, crisis response, gang awareness, classroom strategies for disruptive behaviors, violence de-escalation, and knowledge of search and seizure procedures and due process laws. A total of 350 administrators responded to the survey. Results indicated that most institutions were doing very little to prepare teachers to cope with school violence. Fewer than half believed their schools needed more preparation for teachers in violence preparation. Administrators who had heard reports about school violence from recent graduates tended to offer more workshops and seminars on violence. Contain 15 references. (Author/SM) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** (NI tr) c) Running head: VIOLENCE PREVENTION oo o. BEST COPY AVAILABLE Violence Prevention 1 Violence Prevention Preparation: A Survey of Colleges of Education and Departments of Teacher Education Donald R. Nims, Ed.D. Western Kentucky University