School Connectedness, Anger Behaviors, and Relationships of Violent and Nonviolent American Youth

* Which groups or cliques can you clearly identify in your school? Is one group dominant?Are there racial/ ethnic groups who control the school?

* Are there any gangs in your school?

* Do young people plan fights during the day and talk about who will win and when or where they will fight?

* Do teachers appear intimidated at your school?

* Are there teachers or counselors you can speak to about these problems?

* Have you ever reported a student being bullied? What happened?

* What does your school tell you about how to handle bullying or what to do if you hear someone threatening to kill somebody? (Twemlow, Fonagy, & Sacco, 2001, p. 378)

It is time for Americans to pay greater attention to healthy school environments. We concur with the assertion of Reinke and Herman (2002) that "school settings can either lessen or compound risk factors (e.g., parent relationships, poverty, neighborhood effects) that children bring to the classroom" (p. 796). Every child should have an opportunity to learn, and to interact with classmates and teachers, in a safe environment that facilitates emotional intelligence and psychological well-being.

Conclusion

Results of this study indicate that there is insufficient attention to the alienation of disliked and lonely students. Mental health nurses could play a pivotal role in fostering change in the social climate of schools and helping youth to achieve better anger management and social skills.

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