Some might argue that schools are not the place to teach violence prevention education or the values of respect, peace, and conflict resolution—that schools must adhere only to the basic curriculum. Unfortunately, because of the prevalence of violence in our society, parents and families are not always in the best position to teach these vital lessons. Children’s emotional lives must be tended in order to help them to learn most effectively, and they must have an atmosphere of non-violence, peacefulness, and respect in order to thrive.

Domestic violence is a complex subject, but one that desperately needs to be addressed, or there will be serious consequences for the next generation of children. By offering prevention programs, young people will have a greater chance of leading lives free from violence. Prevention also means taking an active role in promoting social change and making efforts to influence needed legislative reforms.

Prevention Strategies for Young People

• Introduce the issue of domestic violence and child abuse into school programs. By dong so, educators help break the isolation of children from homes where domestic violence occurs. Domestic violence programs often have staff available to speak to school groups about prevention.
  
  
• Teach healthy problem solving. Young people will learn the values of equality and respect.
  
  
• Teach young people to examine gender and sex role stereotypes so that they may begin to recognize how such stereotyping can lead to greater acceptance of domestic violence.
  
  
• Display educational and agency information about abuse issues, so that young people can anonymously pick them up, i.e. restrooms, other private areas.