title: [Weapons in school--experiences and approaches in Berlin].
abstract: On the background of current and often dramatized media reports on the subject of guns in schools this article deals with acts of violence, with guns which were discussed publicly last year in Berlin. In addition the authors have included statistical data from the Berlin school administration on acts of violence at Berlin schools which were reported 1996 to 1999. These were all incidents where guns were mentioned. On the one hand detailed analyses of these reports show that guns are used only exceptionally. On the other hand, surveys among students and studies on arming in general and also the willingness to arm oneself, which should be taken seriously, showed a wide-spread feeling of being threatened among teenagers and especially male teenagers try to prepare themselves this. With the example of Berlin this article describes which measures the school administration uses in view of increasing offences committed by children and teenagers regarding concrete acts of violence. Recommendations on steps appropriate to dealing with incidents with gun threats and what kinds of resources schools can turn to in cases of serious acts of violences are also included in this article. In the end it becomes clear that schools free of guns and violence can only be realized if children, youths and teachers can count on parents, media and the politically responsible to reliably support this goal.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Seiring
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001604:Berlin / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*