Are we missing the forest for the trees? Considering the social context of school violence

This paper argues that we have neglected an important consideration in our approach to school violence, namely that of the social context of the school. The interaction between the social contexts of schools, children's developmental capacities, and the resultant sense of school community is implicated in problems of violence in American schools. Children prone to violence are disadvantaged in their ability to participate meaningfully in the community of the school, thus impeding an important avenue for prevention and intervention. Consideration of these issues and recommendations for practice are made. (C) 1998 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.