The number of violent deaths on school grounds declined to 33 in the 2009-2010 school year, the lowest number on record since the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice began collecting data in 1992. In the previous school year, there were 38 such deaths. Thefts and nonfatal violent crimes declined from 1.2 million in 2008 to 828,00 in 2010. While the data show a consistent decline, there were increases in cyberbullying and suicides among youths ages 5 to 18 outside of school.
Of the 33 violent deaths involving students, staff members, and others on campuses, 25 were homicides, five were suicides, and three involved a law-enforcement officer.
Some have challenged the report as underestimating the extent of violence because the data were collected through surveys and not incident-based reporting.
Taking the challenges into consideration and not downplaying the terrible loss of life, the media exploits school violence to a greater degree than other forms of violence. We hear far more about school violence than violence in businesses. Is there more violence in schools than businesses? I don’t know. All I know is what I read in the papers.