Violence in Today's School Workplace

Increasingly, headlines today report out-of-control student violence occurring in our schools and colleges. Yet so little concrete action is being taken to protect the bystanding victims of this trauma, the school worker. Classroom teachers, administrators, coaches, school bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, and other school employees a

Dr. Diane H. Williamson earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Tulsa, and holds a Doctor of Education from Oklahoma State University. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine; Forest Institute of Psychology; the Menninger Clinic; New England Medical Center; and the Neurological Center in Dallas. Her major areas of professional training include human development and neuro-psychology. Her professional interests include human development and the effects of brain functions on learning and behavior. Dr. Williamson is a member ofthe American Psychological Association, and a board member of the Tulsa Chapter ofthe National Association for Mental Illness. Dr. Williamson has worked as a special education teacher and consultant for Tulsa Public Schools. She taught at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and at Langston University in Tulsa. She also consults with hospitals and social service agencies in the Tulsa area. Dr. Williamson is deeply committed to the challenge presented by today's disturbed youth -both in a pressure-packed school or domestic environment. Her involvement in -and resolution of-thousands of such cases qualifies her as an extraordinary author. She provides both a causal background as to the progression of these disturbed personalities, and what steps are necessary to prevent them, or at least be more alert to their danger signs. David E. Strecker, J.D., M.I.L.R. is the 1995 founder and Managing Partner of Strecker & Associates, P.C., Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mr. Strecker has over 30 years experience in the litigation field. Strecker & Associates' exclusive practice in labor and employment law has given the firm wide recognition and praise in Oklahoma and neighboring states. It is known as one of the most sophisticated, substantial employment law practices in the entire region. He received his Law Degree (cum laude) and Masters of Industrial Labor Relations Degree from Cornell University. He holds a B.A. Degree (magna cum laude) from Westminster College in Missouri. David was a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. He teaches Labor Relations at Oklahoma State University. He is a member of the Oklahoma and New York State Bar, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court. He is admitted to practice before several federal courts in Oklahoma, Arkansas, New York and Texas. David is former General Counsel and Vice President of the Tulsa Area Human Resource Association. He brings a wealth of hands-on experience in the many legal matters surrounding the escalation of violence and the related litigation in our schools. He is well suited to add his expertise in legal and labor relations litigation to this book. Henry D. Townsend, C.S.P. is President of LosStop Consultant's, Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma, specialists in Loss Control and Environmental Compliance. Henry has over 36 years of experience in the development, implementation and administration of Safety, Health and Environmental Compliance Programs. This includes work in the relatively unrecognized area of Bloodbome Protection requirements for people not employed in the medical care industry. A graduate of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, he also served in Merchant Marine Safety in the U.S. Coast Guard. His global and domestic employment both as a corporate safety director and a consultant includes the U.S. Government, college instructor, petrochemical and medical electronics manufacturing, petroleum industry/manufacturing, heavy metal fabrication plants, and food processing sites. Mr. Townsend is a Professional Member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and a full member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), as well as being a Certified Safety Professional for 16 years. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Tulsa County Local Emergency Planning Committee.

About the Authors, Acknowledgments, Introduction, 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE LAW AND LEGAL TERMS, 2. THE LAW PERTAINING TO SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND ITS PREVENTION, 3. LEGAL TOOLS TO PROTECT OTHERS AND OURSELVES FROM VIOLENT ACTS, 4. DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES: INFANCY, EARLY CHILDHOOD, AND ADOLESCENCE, 5. THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES, 6. EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE PREVENTION, 7. DISEASES CONTRACTED FROM BBP AND REQUIRED PROACTIVE MEASURES, 8. REGULATORY PROTECTION AGAINST BBP DISEASES FOR SCHOOL WORKPLACE EMPLOYEES, 9. THE APPLICATION OF THE OSHA BBP STANDARD AND THE PUBLIC SCHOLASTIC WORKPLACE, APPENDICES, Glossary of Terms