Voices from the Field - Florida Department of Education

Appendix E
FINDINGS AND DAT A FROM YOUTH SUMMIT ON
SCHOOL SAFETY
The information below provides the key findings of the Youth Summit on School
Safety. The summary of the proceedings was prepared by Dr. Sherri Zimmerman,
University of West Florida, Project Evaluation Team. Findings may not equal 100%
due to rounding.
Key Findings
• Students believe that they are the best method of prevention in school violence.
• Students don’t speak up and tell about possible acts of violence because
they are afraid of retaliation.
• Students overwhelmingly will tell a trusted adult on campus about a possible
threat rather than a parent.
• Overall, students feel safe on their school campuses.
• Students believe they are the best source to persuade their peers to speak
up when there is a possibility of violence. Teenagers believe they are more
effective than nationally known performers, athletes, and other individuals.
• The predominant reason for students to speak up is if they believe there is
an imminent and certain threat of someone being seriously hurt.
• Students believe adults must be ready to receive information about possible
destructive acts.
• Students largely agree they have a responsibility to help make their schools
a safer place.
• During small group discussions, the overarching theme appeared that students
should organize themselves to orchestrate a Silence Hurts campaign
on their school campus.
Survey
A total of 425 students participated in the survey with participant levels per question
as follows:
1. How are you feeling? 388
2. Are you a male or female student? 413
3. What grade are you in? 234
4. Why do you think you were chosen to attend? 425
5. What is the strongest feeling this video created in you? 414
6. How do you think people are most likely to feel when they
believe a weapon is on campus?
415
APPENDICES
From the Field…
Students believe they
are the best source to
persuade their peers
to speak up when
there is a possibility
of violence.
Teenagers believe
they are more
effective than
nationally known
performers, athletes,
and other
individuals.
Voices from the Field 29