Aggression in Schools Sources and Remedies
The biological and genetic basis for aggressive behavior in humanbeings is likely to be of less interest to schoolteachers andadministrators than the potential, practical ways to prevent negative anddestructive exhibitions of aggression in school age children andadolescents. In other words, given that the problem of aggressive behaviorexists, even if it may be more noticeable in identical twins, and even ifit may have profound roots in human biology and behavior, ultimately whatworks to reduce its effects upon the learning environment is the mostconstructive way to approach the problem. Furthermore, the presence ofguns and the presence of mediums such as violent video games and moviesseem to exacerbate long-standing tendencies towards aggressiveness,creating a toxic environment that must be remedied. After all, the geneticpool and human biology have not changed that much in the past twenty years,yet such incidents as Columbine seem to grow, even if only in media Granted some students will be able to benefit more from particularprograms than others, given their personality and their home environment,but all students ideally should benefit to some degree
Assertive behavior iswhat should be encouraged in children-the ability to ask for what onedesires while still respecting the rights and needs of others. Discussion of different waysgender fits into aggressive behavior could be achieved in a fun andpositive way, perhaps by discussion of films like "Mean Girls" a popularbox office hit, and what males and female felt about the film in an Englishclass. Besides physical health, giving students apositive rather than a negative outlet for frustration and the physical andhormonal challenges of adolescent development cannot be underestimated. Simply having school wide discussions regarding aggression andnational issues, such as racism and war and discrimination can also have apositive effect of giving students a forum in which to discuss theirissues, rather than 'acting out' in aggressive ways. The distinction between passive, aggressive, and assertivebehavior may be even more necessary for girls, whom may be passive inarticulating their desires but use negative and counter-productive meanssuch as gossip and sniping in covert acts of aggression against other youngwomen to vent their aggressive feelings. Key to remedying the effects of aggression is striking a contrastbetween aggressive, assertive and passive behavior. To see things from a different side, inQueen Bees and Wannabees she includes a 'Homophobic Questionnaire,' thatturns the tables on homophobic individuals with questions such as "What doyou think caused your heterosexuality'" (Wiseman, 2003) Besides integrating aggressiveness mitigation training into theregular classroom, special educational modules regarding aggression may beuseful, especially in response to local or national incidents. Children may be asked to pretend they are in a crowded store, andhave to ask for something, but without cutting in line or raising theirvoices. This could be discussed as well as it relates to literature fromJane Austen to contemporary literature, including the book by RosalindWiseman that inspired it, Queen Bees and Wannabees. "Educators know that kids need healthy bodies in order to learn properly. Assertivebehavior is often defined as the appropriate 'middle way' betweenaggression and passivity.
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Acceptance Essays
