End Violence in Schools: 13 Reasons Calling for Quick Action
Every day, children walk into classrooms carrying the weight of anxiety. Wondering if they’ll be bullied, harassed, or even physically harmed.
Teachers, who dedicate their lives to education. They are now forced to manage aggressive and violent behaviour instead of focusing on shaping young minds. This isn’t how school is supposed to be.
No child should fear walking into their classroom. No teacher should feel unsafe doing their job. And no parent should have to wonder if their child will come home harmed.
Wihkum stands alongside you in this quest for school safety. We’ve developed an app that allows educators to access security at the time of need. With real-time GPS tracking, geofencing, and instant alerts. Wihkum keeps help a button away from you.
Let’s find out about school violence trends & the reasons to end it.
Why We Need to Take Immediate Action Against School Violence?
To fully understand why we must end violence in schools. We must examine the ways it impacts students, educators, and society. We have collected some data from authentic sources regarding the detrimental effects of violence in schools.
Let’s discuss them one by one.
1. Increasing Mental Health Crisis Among Students
Mental health issues among students are on the rise. School violence and bullying being significant contributors to them.
Increasing mental health issues is one of the ‘key drivers of non-attendance’ of students from schools.
Source: ABC News
Studies show that students exposed to violence in schools are more likely to experience emotional distress. Leading to lower self-esteem, sleep disturbances, and even suicidal thoughts.
2. Marginalised Students Are at a Higher Risk
Certain student groups face a greater risk of bullying and violence surges in schools. They include ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ students, and children with disabilities.
The already marginalised groups are further going away from education due to bullying at schools.
Source: VIC Australian Govt.
These students are frequently targeted due to prejudice and discrimination. As a result, they skip school due to fear, leading to increased dropout rates. This not only affects their education but also limits their future opportunities.
3. Cyberbullying Has Created New Avenues for Violence
The rise of social media has led to an increase in cyberbullying. The bullies now follow victims beyond classrooms, to harass, threaten, and intimidate them anonymously.
44% of Australian young people report having a negative online experience in the last 6 months, this includes 15% who received threats or abuse online.
Source: E-Safety Australian Govt.
The emotional distress by online harassment has led to self-harm and depression. Causing even suicide in extreme cases. Schools must implement strict policies to address both physical and digital violence.
4. Corporal Punishment Is Still Legal in Many Countries
Another overlooked but important form of violence is corporal punishments. Students are being used to physical harm as an acceptable way to enforce rules.
Despite widespread condemnation, corporal punishment is still legal in some parts of the world.
Source: PubMed Research
In these regions, students are subjected to physical discipline by teachers. Corporal punishments normalise violence and creates a hostile school environment. Leading to increased aggression, resentment, and long-term psychological harm.
5. Unsafe Schools Lead to Increased Truancy and Dropout Rates
When students do not feel safe, they avoid attending school.
Attendance of Australian Schools is dropping with each passing year. Rate of 88.6% from 2023 is now 88.3% in 2024.
Source: ACARA
Students who experience violence or bullying are more likely to disengage from school. This has long-term consequences. Including lower job prospects, risk of criminal behaviour, and economic instability.
Protecting children from violence in school is essential to keep them engaged in their education. So, we can control and manage these escalating dropout rates.
6. School Violence Causes Huge Economic Losses
The economic cost of violence in schools extends beyond just educational institutions. It also includes the loss faced by economy due to more drop outs & lesser rate of education.
Economic cost of violence in school could be $11 trillion due to children dropping out of school or not learning as much as they would have without violence.
Source: World Bank
When students leave school due to safety concerns, their lack of education limits their future job prospects, reducing their earning potential and contributing to long-term economic stasis.
7. Exposure Makes Students More Likely to Engage in Violent Behaviour
Young minds are highly impressionable. Students who grow up witnessing aggressive and violent behaviour are more likely to exhibit similar tendencies in adulthood. As we can see in the increasing violence cases in schools.
A teenage love triangle allegedly sparked a series of events that led to alleged murder of a Perth schoolboy.
Source: News AU
Children exposed to violence in their early years are at a higher risk of becoming perpetrators themselves. If violence in schools is not addressed. It will create a cycle where victims become aggressors, perpetuating violence across generations.
8. Weapons Are Increasingly Being Found in Schools
Reports show a disturbing trend of students bringing weapons to school, including knives, machetes, and even firearms.
School principals faced with machetes, spears and knives as report reveals soaring classroom violence.
Source: ABC News
Violence in schools WA has escalated to a point where teachers and administrators are now at risk of being attacked by armed students. These statistics indicate the immediate need to limit school violence. Otherwise, it will escalate to an uncontrollable level.
9. School Leaders Are Also Victims of Violence
Work-related violence in schools does not only affect students. It also impacts school leaders, including principals and administrators. There are multiple reports of school staff facing physical attacks and threats from students and even parents.
One out of three Australian school principals have experienced some form of violence in their careers.
Source: by The Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA)
This hostile work environment discourages talented educators from taking on leadership roles. Furthermore, it is weakening the student’s belief in authorities.
10. Stress and Fear Are Widespread Among Teachers
Educators play a crucial role in shaping the future of students. Yet they are increasingly facing violence in schools. Teachers who experience physical or verbal abuse suffer from heightened stress, anxiety, and burnout.
Teachers cite violent, abusive behaviour among growing list of things making their jobs harder.
Source: ABC News
This toxic work environment impacts their ability to teach effectively. Leading to poor student outcomes. If the trend continues, more teachers will choose to leave the profession. And there will be a shortage of qualified educators.
11. Teachers Are Leaving the Profession in Large Numbers
Due to rising school violence and bullying, many educators are quitting their jobs. Teaching is a noble profession. But when personal safety is compromised, many feel they have no choice but to leave.
Teachers leaving profession in droves amid rise of violence.
Source: 9 Now News
The Australian Education Union (AEU) reported that teacher retention rates are at an all-time low due to safety concerns. This leads to understaffed schools and increased workloads for remaining teachers. Affecting the quality of education.
12. Violence, Affecting WA Schools, is No Longer a Foreign Threat
The level of school violence in Western Australia has increased significantly in recent years.
Western Australia ranked 3rd where principals reported physical violence, with 55.4% of respondents affirming the experience.
Source: Australian Govt.
Reports indicate that school principals and teachers are frequently attacked by students. Some incidents even involve deadly weapons.
Without immediate intervention, violence in schools WA will continue to escalate. Putting more lives at risk. Schools must adopt strict anti-violence policies and implement real-time security solutions.
13. The First School Shooting in WA Highlights the Dangers
For years, school shootings were considered an issue exclusive to the US. But a recent incident in Western Australia has shattered this belief.
School shooter is arrested from Perth in Australian-first case, leaving an air of terror after the incident.
Source: WA Today News
This incident is a wake-up call. Proving that school violence is no longer a distant problem but a present reality among us. Urgent action is now needed against school violence to prevent future tragedies.
Conclusion
The need to end violence in schools is more urgent than ever. From the mental health crisis among students to the rise in school-related violence in WA. The evidence is clear. Schools must become safer now.
We need a prompt violence in schools plan. Because, without timely action, students and educators will continue to suffer. And the long-term societal consequences will be severe.
Is Your School Prepared to Handle These Increasing Trends of Violence?
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