A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

America Goes Back to School - August 1995

Creating Safe and Drug-Free Schools That Teach Basic American Values

I. Key Facts

Areas of Progress. Many schools across the country have devised innovative, firm, and fair ways to confront safety and drug problems. As a result, we see examples of schools that have turned themselves around.

The Savannah School in Rosemead, Cal., changed elementary students' attitudes toward violence by including student council and class representatives in the planning, development, and implementation of school programs. The school was deeply at risk, bordered on either side by two warring gangs. Rules were restructured so that they were clear to students, staff, and parents.
The parents at John G. Riley Elementary School in Tallahassee, Fla., took back their neighborhood from crime. The community that surrounds the school has the highest crime rate in the city. Yet parents formed a neighborhood association with the help and support of the U.S. Attorney's Weed and Seed program. The results have been dramatic. At least 20 drug-related arrests have been made and some drug dealers have been jailed. There are now fewer drug-related suspensions of students, the school is a safe haven before and after school, and the number of community groups using Riley's facilities has grown by 300 percent.
Hooper Alexander Elementary School in Atlanta, Ga., experienced a tragedy when its seventh-grade student council president was killed in gun crossfire resulting from drug activity. This brought the community and school together to fight drugs and violence. Through funds from the Georgia State Lottery, the school bought walkie-talkies for administrators, call-back intercom systems were installed in each classroom, and a security fence was erected. Police patrol the area on bicycles, and the PTA hired a security guard to patrol the campus during evening programs.

Areas that Need Attention. While most schools are safe and drug-free, a large number of schools in all parts of the country--urban, suburban, and rural--are experiencing problems with crime, violence, and alcohol and drug use. Many students are using alcohol and drugs, bringing weapons--including guns--to school, assaulting or threatening fellow students and teachers, and engaging in disruptive behavior.

Many students are afraid to go to school. Nearly one in 25 students (4 percent) missed at least one day of school during the 30 days before the 1995 Youth Risk Behavior survey because they felt unsafe at school or going to or from school.
Weapons are common in schools. More than 1 in 10 students (12 percent) carried a weapon on school property during the same period.
Drug use among students is on the rise. Drug use among 10th and 12th graders has been on rise for two consecutive years, and it has risen for three straight years among 8th graders.

II. Ten Activities To Help Ensure Your School Is Safe, Disciplined, and Drug-Free

Families: Talk to children about the dangers of alcohol and drug use. Make sure they have up-to-date information about alcohol and drugs and understand that hanging out with others who use alcohol, drugs, and weapons can affect their own safety, self-reliance, and relationships with people whose respect they value.
Families and schools: Work together to teach core American values and develop character education programs. Set standards of behavior and clear expectations for children and students. Read the school's discipline policies and discuss them with young people. Talk with them about how school rules support the rights of all students to attend schools that are free of violence and substance abuse. Practice clear responses to people who are intoxicated, abusive, aggressive, or hostile.
Families and community groups: Build a network with other adults to talk about issues such as alcohol, drug use, violent behavior, and school safety. Form a parents' organization or community association, such as "parent patrols" or "security dads and moms," that work in and around the school to discourage alcohol and drug abuse and ward off unwanted intruders.
Families, community groups, religious organizations, and law enforcement officials: Work with the school to develop responses to violence and substance abuse that let students know that all parties view the problem the same way. Help develop school policies on disruptive and violent behavior and drugs. Good policies make it absolutely clear what the rules are--and spell out the consequences for violations.
Families, community members, religious organizations, businesses, law enforcement officials, and members of the military: Help plan and participate in school and community alcohol- and drug-free activities, including weekend dances and social events, holiday celebrations, proms, and graduation parties. Sponsor after-school and summer learning activities and sports and cultural events. Encourage students to help set the rules for these events.
Schools: Teach our basic American values, provide character education, and lead by example. Establish firm, fair rules, and keep in touch with families on a regular basis before problems arise. Make sure all families have a copy of the school's discipline code and urge them to read it. Review the code periodically and involve parents and students in the process. Working with parents to develop solid character education programs.
Community organizations and religious groups: Involve young people and their families in developing programs and policies, and appoint students to advisory committees or other groups which set community policies on violence and substance abuse.
Businesses, religious groups, law enforcement groups, and military organizations: Reinforce common American values by setting an example. Sponsor sports teams, bands, chess clubs, arts activities, and other activities for children when they are not in school that reinforce fairness and other positive values.
Community groups, local law enforcement, religious organizations, and businesses: Help create safe corridors for children on their way to and from school by extending your place of business beyond your doors. Businesses can also identify themselves as "Safe Spaces"--places youth can go if they are being threatened. The police can work with businesses, parents, and schools to design and implement patrols which bring officers into schools and other areas where children congregate.
Local news organizations and television stations: Cover positive stories about youth activities and accomplish-ments, especially stories that portray young people exhibiting the core American values of honesty, loyalty, and respecting others. They make great human interest stories.

III. Where To Go for More Help

ORGANIZATIONS

You can seek help from local sources such as your local parent-school organization, school board, community agencies, and law enforcement agencies. The following organizations also provide assistance and information:

American Council for Drug Education
204 Monroe St.
Rockville, MD 20850
301-294-0600

Institute on Black Chemical Abuse
2514 Nicollet Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-871-7878

"Just Say NO" Clubs
1777 N. California Blvd., Suite 200
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
1-800-258-2766

National Association of Secondary School Principals
1904 Association Drive
Reston, VA 22091
703-860-0200

National Center To Prevent Handgun Violence
1225 Eye St., NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-289-7319

National Crime Prevention Council
1700 K St., NW
Washington, DC 20006
202-466-NCPC

National Families in Action, Inc.
2296 Henderson Mill Road, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30345
404-934-6364

National Family Partnership
PO Box 3878
St Louis, MO 63122
314-845-1933

National Institute for Citizen Education in the Law
711 G St., SE
Washington, DC 20003
202-546-6644

National PTA Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Project
330 N. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
312-670-6782

National School Safety Center
4165 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 290
Westlake Village, CA 91362
805-373-9977

Partnership for a Drug Free America
405 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY 10174
212-922-1560
1-800-624-0100

Safe Homes
PO Box 702
Livingston, NJ 07039

CLEARINGHOUSES

National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information
PO Box 2345
Rockville, MD 20852
1-800-SAY-NO-TO

Inter-Agency Working Group of Federal Clearinghouses
1-800-788-2800
(Also, see publications guide below)

PUBLICATIONS

Safe Schools Handbook. A comprehensive, five-step approach to resolving safety issues produced by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Call 1-800-253-PRIN.

The Catalog of Selected Federal Publications on Illegal Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Includes resource information from the Departments of Education, Justice, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Call the Inter-Agency Working Group of Federal Clearinghouses at 1-800-788-2800.

The following are available free of charge from the U.S. Department of Education. Call or write:

U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Ave, SW
Room 602--Portals Bldg.
Washington, DC 20202-6123
1-800-728-6686
202-260-3954

Growing Up Drug-Free: A Parent's Guide to Prevention
Contains information about whom to contact at many of the organizations listed above. Also available in Spanish.

Early Childhood Series -- READY SET GO
For care-givers of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children. Available in autumn 1995.

School Administrators' Violence Prevention Resource Anthology
Includes articles covering many aspects of violence prevention. Available in autumn 1995.

CHALLENGE
Newsletters on topics regarding substance abuse prevention. Reprints subject to availability.

Schools Without Drugs
Available in Spanish.

Youth and Alcohol
A reprint of the Surgeon General's report to the nation.

Success Stories
Booklets which provide information on schools that have received national recognition for their comprehensive substance abuse and violence prevention programs, practices, and policies.

Learning To Live Drug-Free
A compilation of suggested lesson plans and curriculum supplements for all grades in several subject areas.

AUDIO-VISUAL AIDS

Changing Channels
This video with student activities and teacher's guide has been mailed to middle schools throughout the country.

Teaching Children Affected by Substance Abuse
A taped teleconference discusses successful techniques for helping children.

Other videos available for two-week loans by calling 1-800-USA-Learn:

The U.S. Department of Education has available tapes of the Goals 2000 Satellite Town Meetings and other products that are available free of charge through a lending library. VHS videotapes are available on loan for a two- week period. The Goals 2000 Satellite Town Meeting is not copyrighted and viewers are encouraged to make copies and distribute them in their communities. If you plan to broadcast the Satellite Town Meeting and need a broadcast-quality 3/4" videotape, call 1-800-USA-LEARN. These videos include:

Satellite Town Meeting #19
February 21, 1995
"Safe Schools: Providing Our Children with a Disciplined and Drug-Free Learning Environment"

Satellite Town Meeting #5
July 20, 1993
"Safe, Disciplined, & Drug-Free Schools"

Solving Youth Violence: Partnerships that Work
August 16, 1994
A special two-hour teleconference featuring Vice President Al Gore and examples of programs successfully addressing the problems of youth violence.

POSTERS

The following are available free of charge from the U.S. Department of Education (see address above.)

Turtle Talk (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Steroids Mean Trouble

How To Say No

Say No to Crack and Other Drugs (McGruff)

Killer Crack

The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act provides funding to help schools prevent violence and deal with drug abuse. Your school and community may qualify for funds. For information, turn to Need Financial Assistance? Your Schools May Qualify For Funding.
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