Unowned Places and Times: Maps and Interviews About Violence in High Schools

Abstract

Students and teachers in five high schools were given maps of their schools and asked to identify the locations and times of the most violent events and most dangerous areas in and around the school. Participants were also asked to identify the ages and genders of the perpetrators/victims of the violent events. Participants were then interviewed about why they believed violence occurred in the locations and times which were indicated on the maps. Results suggested that violent events occurred primarily in spaces such as hallways, dining areas, and parking lots at times when adults were not typically present. Interviews with children and school staff suggest that these territories within schools tend to be "unowned" by school personnel and students. The study participants suggested ways to address violence in these contexts and increase ownership of these spaces. Teachers,' students,' and administrators' views on variables such as teacher/child relationships, gender, race, and the organizational response to school violence are contrasted. In addition, their thoughts about existing interventions such as security guards, suspension, and video/electronic monitoring are presented. Based on the findings of this inquiry, the authors recommend that interventions be designed to increase the role of students, teachers, and other school community members in reclaiming unowned school territories.