The first step to tackling school violence starts with us, not our children

Every week brings another shocking headline about violence among schoolchildren. But has school violence really surged – or have we simply ignored a slow-burning crisis decades in the making?

I do not believe there has been any dramatic recent rise in school violence. Instead, what we are seeing are isolated incidents of a growing problem in our schools, among teenagers and in society in general.

It has been developing over many years with little attention given or action taken. Now we see the ‘fruit’ of our failure to deal with these issues.

It would be simplistic and incorrect to link the increase in violent behaviour among school-aged children to undiagnosed or unmanaged mental health issues.

While there has been an increase in psychosocial (mental) health problems among teenagers, that has also occurred in society at large.

It must be stressed that the majority of people with mental illness are non-violent and are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. We need to stop stigmatising psychosocial health problems by linking them to violent behaviour.

The key factors that contribute to an increase in violent behaviour among school-aged children are related to family relationships, social change, and institutional failure. It is time to stop blaming children and focus on the failure of adults.

Research suggests that exposure to violent content in media – whether on TV, social media or video games – can normalise or desensitise children to violence and increase aggression.

But many experts emphasise that the data show this effect is relatively minor compared with other risk factors – the individual child’s personality, family dynamics, and social environment.

Parents must take responsibility for training their children in the use of internet-connected digital devices. Sadly, most of our children have unrestricted access to the internet, online games and social media from a young age. Parents need to set healthy boundaries on the use of devices based on age.

Children need training on how to discern truth from lies, the difference between real life and the video and online game world, how to respond to online negativity and violence, and how to balance screen time with other activities.

Parents must take responsibility for their children’s psychosocial wellbeing and be aware of their relationships and online use. If we as parents are not intimately involved in the lives of our children and have a meaningful relationship with them, then we fail them.

Media’s role matters too

While reporting on violence attracts eyeballs, in the long run, it helps to degrade society. The media play an important role to inform, but not amplify, violence in any form in society.

Explicit sharing and amplification of violence lead to copycat behaviour among teens.

All our social media platforms have failed children by allowing violent, abusive and sexualised content to flourish online – we must stop this financially motivated negligence.

Current research and systematic reviews show that none of the measures proposed by federal or state governments are of proven benefit.

The presence of police in schools, the use of metal detectors, increased CCTV, corporal punishment, and social media bans for those under 16 have been studied and found to be ineffective – and may even be harmful.

These measures focus on the symptoms and not the root causes. We must address the root problems of violence, such as psychosocial (mental) health needs, family challenges, a positive school culture, and getting our social media applications to protect children.

These are not easy solutions, but they are meaningful ones with long-term benefits. If adults do not change their behaviour – reducing their use of digital devices and social media, showing less aggression, and improving family relationships – then we cannot expect children to change.

Children are only reflecting adult behaviour, and we are poor role models. The first step to safer schools begins not with our children, but with us.

The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.