Violence in society is more prevalent today than ever before. Media and entertainment have opened up violent images for children to see. Availability of weapons to school age children seems incredulous. News stories of elementary school children bringing guns to school and killing classmates are sickening yet true. What is happening to our country? What is happening to our schools?
             It is no secret that academic performance has declined over the last thirty or forty years.
             Today's students are not as proficient in the "three R's" as are parents or grandparents was. "Cultural illiteracy," is rising. Cultural illiteracy indicates a failure to "possess the basic information needed to thrive in the modern world," or to "be deficient in one's understanding of the basic terms and concepts that a person needs to function properly in our society." (Schroder 75).
             As public education has grabbed the attention of parents, policy-makers, and political candidates, the problems of school violence have received increased attention. School safety has become the sixth initiative of the U.S. Department of Education's Goals 2000 program. They propose Safe, Disciplined, and Drug-free Schools by the year 2000. (Perlstein B. 02)
             Despite heightened public attention following a surge in multiple homicides in schools, overall school crime rates are declining, according to the new 1999 Annual Report on School Safety. (Journal of American Medical Association 34)
             "Although America can be glad that school crime is decreasing," said President Clinton; "we must take firm steps to ensure the safety of all our young people in their communities and in their schools. Congress should finish its work on the juvenile justice conference and finally pass a comprehensive and balanced bill that includes common sense gun provisions that will keep guns out of the hands of children and criminal...