Break The Silence Stop the Violence

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Break The Silence - Stop the Violence

• Presented by
• The Delaware State Police Community
  Services

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Introduction

• Violence on television, in the newspaper and in
  the movies.
• We see violence every day
• You may even see it in your neighborhood
• We are here today to talk about violence and you

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BREAK THE SILENCE - STOP THE VIOLENCE
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Overview

• Are you worried about your safety while at
  school?
• You are not alone
• 1000s of students just like you have these
  feelings each day
• Violence effects all of us
• It is not just a urban problem
• It can happen in suburbs as well as rural
  environments

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This program

• Will show the reality of violence in the school
• Will show the causes of student violence
• Will demonstrate the skills you need to keep your
  schools safe

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The Problem

• If you watch television or read the paper, you
  have seen and about violence in the schools
• You may think it can not happen in your school
• It can happen anywhere

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Reality

• Over one million students in the United States
  took guns to school in 1997 (High School, Middle
  and Elementary)
• Guns do not give second chances
• Unlike TV or a video game, when someone uses
  violence to settle a score the consequences are
  real.
• Maybe even permanent

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How would you feel.

• If you were shot
• If one of your friends or family were shot
• If you loose someone you care for to violence
• It can all happen in just a few seconds

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What can be done

• It may seem like there is nothing we can do to
  stop the violence
• Can anyone predict what will happen?
• Actually, if people had been paying attention to
  certain warning signs many of the school
  shootings may have been prevented

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Warning signs

• Psychologists have found that many students who
  commit school violence have common behavior signs
• You can learn to spot these warning signs

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1. Depression

• Most violent students suffer from severe
  depression
• Depression can lead to thoughts of suicide
• Suicidal people are pose a real threat to
  themselves
• Suicidal thoughts often lead to violent acts
  involving other people

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2. Low Self Esteem

• Violent students often have feelings of
  worthlessness
• Most students who committed acts of violence felt
  as though they were picked on or inferior
• Some experienced years of teasing or abuse before
  they snapped.
• Violence was their way to get even to be
  noticed

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3. Changes in Behavior

• Violent students often have drastic mood swings
• May have no self control or acts irrationally.
  Often flies off the handle
• Behavior can be the most important warning signs
  of violence

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4. Irresponsibility

• Do you know a student who hates rules or tries to
  blame others for what is really their own fault?
• Potentially violent students may act
  irresponsible and find it difficult to function
  normally
• They may stop doing homework, loose interest in
  grades or their favorite activities
• May even stop talking to friends and become
  withdrawn

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5. Obsessed with Violence

• Obsession becomes so great students have
  difficulty separating fictional TV violence from
  reality
• Violent students fail to focus on the deadly
  consequences of real violence acts

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6. Cruelty

• One of the biggest signs
• You should be concerned about anyone who talks
  about committing cruel acts
• There is a definite problem if you know anyone
  who actually commits acts of cruelty

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Cruelty continued

• Many students who have committed school violence
  started out by torturing small animals
• As their obsession with cruelty grew - people
  became their targets

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7. Threats

• Violent students often say they are about to do
  something big, or
• Say they are going to get everyone back
• TAKE EVERY THREAT OF VIOLENCE AS REAL
• If a student says they are going to commit
  violence - believe it!

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Remember the warning signs

• Severe Depression
• Suicidal thoughts
• Low self esteem
• Extreme behavior changes
• Irresponsibility
• Obsession with violence
• Commits acts of cruelty
• If anyone you know has these problems tell
  someone. It is up to you to do something

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What can we do

• There is one thing we can do to prevent violence
  in our schools
• We already do it every day
• Talk
• Look at the students in your school
• Does someone you know show the warning signs of
  violence
• If so - tell someone

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Tell someone

• Teacher
• Counselor
• Principal
• Parent
• Police Officer
• Anyone who will listen

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Solving the problem

• If we want to solve the problem we must peak up
  and break the silence
• We are all responsible for keeping our schools
  safe
• Even if you are afraid you have to tell someone
• If you have any information, you have to tell
  someone

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Take guns and violence seriously

• If anyone you know has a gun in school, things
  are way out of control
• You can not take the risk of not telling someone
• Even if you think they are just trying to show
  off
• Even if it seems like a joke
• Think of the consequences of not speaking up

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Prevent the violence

• Remember you have a voice
• Speak up
• Think about how school shootings can be prevented
  if students would speak up and tell what they know

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Dont be afraid

• You have the power to make you school safe
• You have the power to take control and prevent
  school violence
• You have the power to do it now!

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Break The Silence - Stop the Violence

• Presented by
• The Delaware State Police Community
  Services