B.Ballard+2+paragraphs

Teen violence is a very important issue today in our society, and it’s everywhere. Violent and bloody acts have plagued U.S. schools in recent years. Teenagers in Junior High and High Schools have been lashing out at their peers and teachers, gunning down people, injuring and killing them. A study issue in 2001 reported that more than 2.5 million crimes against students occured during the 1999 school year alone. About 186,000 those were violent crimes; more violence occured in school than out of school. I chose to write about this topic because in 2002, more than 877,700 young people ages 10 to 24 were injured from violent acts. Approximately 1 in 13 required hospitalization. Children learn violent behaviors from their family and peers, as well as observe it in their neighborhoods and in the community at large. These behaviors are reinforced by what youth see on television, on the Internet, in video games, movies, music videos, and what they hear in their music. The most critical risk factor for violence for your children is the behavior of their friends and classmates. You should know who your kids hang out with and encourage healthy behavior and relationships, and I think if parents do this that it will eliminate most of the violence amongst teens.