Federal grant targets school violence

Friday, Oct. 4, 2002 | 9:58 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Nevada will receive a $2.5 million federal grant over the next four years with the goal of improving the character of students to cut down on school violence.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said the program will go a long way toward promoting school safety.

The grant will fund the Nevada Character Education Program and is an outgrowth of the Bully Free for Me Task Force.

A recent survey released by the state Department of Education said 41 percent of middle school students and 36 percent of high school students had been in a fight within the year of the report. About 23 percent of middle school students and 13 percent of high school pupils fought on the school campus.

The study said 13 percent of middle school students carried a weapon such as a gun, knife or club in the month prior to the survey, and five percent carried a weapon on school property.

Sixteen percent of high school students carried a weapon and seven percent brought a gun, knife or club to the campus.

Thirteen percent of middle school students and 14 percent of high schoolers reported they did not go to school on one or more days in the month before the survey because they felt they would be unsafe at school or on their way to or from school.

A spokesman said a good share of the money will go to hire experts to train teachers and parents to improve student caring, civic virtue, citizenship, fairness, respect and trustworthiness.

Jack McLaughlin, state superintendent of public instruction, said both rural and urban schools will benefit. The money comes from the federal No Child left Behind Act of 2001.