Children and Violence

Thinking about your oldest child, when he or she is at school, do you fear for his or her physical safety?

[ASKED OF K-12 PARENTS]

Yes, fear

No, do not

No opinion

%

%

%

2007 Aug 13-16

24

76

*

2006 Oct 6-8

35

65

--

2006 Aug 7-10

25

75

*

2005 Aug 8-11

21

79

*

2004 Aug 9-11

28

71

1

2003 Aug 4-6

24

76

*

2002 Aug 5-8

31

68

1

2001 Aug 16-19

32

68

0

2001 Mar 9-11

45

54

1

2000 Aug 24-27

26

74

0

2000 Apr 7-9

43

57

0

1999 Aug 24-26

47

53

*

1999 May 21-23

52

47

1

1999 Apr 26-27

49

51

*

1999 Apr 21

55

45

0

1998 Jun 5-7

37

62

1

1977 ^

24

70

6

^

Gallup for Kettering Foundation.



Have any of your school-aged children expressed any worry or concern about feeling unsafe at their school when they go back to school this fall?

[ASKED OF K-12 PARENTS]

Yes

No

No opinion

%

%

%

2007 Aug 13-16

12

87

1

2006 Oct 6-8

12

88

--

2006 Aug 7-10

11

87

2

2004 Aug 9-11

10

89

1

2003 Aug 4-6

8

91

1

2001 Mar 9-11 ^

22

77

1

2000 Aug 24-27

8

92

*

1999 Aug 24-26

18

82

*

^

WORDING: Have any of your school-aged children expressed any worry or concern about feeling unsafe at their school when they go to school?



In your opinion, what is the single most important thing that could be done to prevent another incidence of school shootings by students, like the recent ones in California?

2001 Mar 26-28

1999 May 7-9 ^

Parent involvement/responsibility

31

32

More security at schools

14

16

Better gun control/laws/issues

11

12

Better education/students/parents

6

3

Control media violence/video games/Internet

5

4

Lift laws on disciplining children

4

6

Put prayer back in school/home

3

3

Raise morals/people's standards

3

3

Better communication between students/parents/teachers

3

4

Monitor/watch students more closely

3

--

Stop bullies/bullying

2

--

More counselors/counseling/teachers

2

6

Stricter punishment on children/laws

2

2

Report threats/take threats more seriously

1

--

Dress codes/uniforms

*

1

None

1

1

Other

2

4

No opinion

7

3

^ WORDING: Next we have some questions about the shooting at the Littleton, Colorado high school where 2 students killed 12 of their classmates and one teacher. In your opinion, what is the single most important thing that could be done to prevent another incidence of school shootings by students, like the one in Littleton?



How important do you think each of the following is as a cause of the school shootings that have been occurring -- extremely important, very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. The home life students have today, including their relationship with their parents

Extremely important

Very important

Somewhat important

Not too important

Not at all important

No
opinion

2001 Mar 26-28

57

35

4

2

1

1



B. Bullying and teasing of students at school

Extremely important

Very important

Somewhat important

Not too important

Not at all important

No
opinion

2001 Mar 26-28

29

33

23

8

5

2



C. The portrayal of violence and use of guns in today's entertainment and music

Extremely important

Very important

Somewhat important

Not too important

Not at all important

No
opinion

2001 Mar 26-28

38

30

17

7

6

2



D. The coverage given to school shootings by the news media

Extremely important

Very important

Somewhat important

Not too important

Not at all important

No
opinion

2001 Mar 26-28

32

32

23

7

3

3



E. The availability and ease of obtaining guns by students

Extremely important

Very important

Somewhat important

Not too important

Not at all important

No
opinion

2001 Mar 26-28

46

31

10

6

5

2



F. The way schools discipline their students

Extremely important

Very important

Somewhat important

Not too important

Not at all important

No
opinion

2001 Mar 26-28

31

36

17

8

3

5



G. The size of high schools today in terms of the number of students who attend

Extremely important

Very important

Somewhat important

Not too important

Not at all important

No
opinion

2001 Mar 26-28

20

29

26

15

6

4



H. The fact that families move around and the students don't have roots in one specific town

Extremely important

Very important

Somewhat important

Not too important

Not at all important

No
opinion

2001 Mar 26-28

17

26

28

18

9

2



Overall, do you feel the news media have acted responsibly or irresponsibly in covering the recent school shootings?

Responsibly

Irresponsibly

No opinion

2001 Mar 26-28

57

37

6

1999 Apr 26-27 ^

67

29

4

^

WORDING: Overall, do you feel the news media have acted responsibly or irresponsibly in this situation? (Columbine/Littleton shooting)



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