Violence in the School Community: Students, Parents, Teachers, and Staff Members

Dear Colleagues,

Traditionally, studies of school violence in the literature have been focused on violence perpetrated and experienced by school students. During the past decade, however, there has been growing awareness that teachers may also be perpetrators and victims of school violence perpetrated by students, parents, and colleagues. This line of research reflects a growing awareness that the school is a community, and as such, violence may take place among all members of the community, whether they be students, educational staff members, parents, secretaries, bus drivers, or any other stakeholders who play a role in school. This area of research is, however, underdeveloped. Due to the limited scope of research on school violence experienced by all school stakeholders, there is little conceptualization and empirical knowledge in this area.

It is therefore important to develop theories and expand research to understand the prevalence and mechanisms of the multiple aspects of school violence present in various school communities, precisely because it encompasses all stakeholders and community members. This area of research will lead to measures to prevent school violence in all its forms.

Therefore, this Special Issue of Behavioral Sciences will focus on school violence as experienced and perpetrated by all members of the school community, including its prevalence, consequences, and prevention. This Special Issue will include empirical studies on the various types of violence experienced by the school community, the scope of the problem, the association between different stakeholders’ experience of violence and related antecedents, and the consequences for all involved. In addition, research that sets the stage for effective interventions and prevention approaches (as well as the best practices for creating a safe environment for the entire school community) is encouraged.

This Special Issue will serve as a platform for scholars to explore topics including, but not limited to, the following:

• The mutuality of violence among students, teachers, and parents;
• Collegial violence in schools;
• Violence against school teachers;
• Parental involvement in and reports of school violence;
• School staff involvement in and reports of school violence (e.g., teachers, principals, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, administration staff/secretaries, janitors, school psychologists, school social workers, counselors, etc.);
• Interventions, prevention, and effective approaches to increase school safety for the entire school community, including students, teachers, and other staff members.

Dr. Ruth Berkowitz
Dr. Naama Bar-on Shmilovitch
Guest Editors

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• school violence
• bullying
• victimization
• students
• school educational staff
• school support staff
• administrative staff
• teachers, collegial school violence
• parents