philosopher John Dewey observed that schools reflect the values and problems inherent in society (Boothe, et. al 33). The lack of parental involvement in children's education is cited by more than 90% of administrators as an important factor in school violence (Boothe et. al. 35). Much of this non-involvement stems from the breakdown of the family. There are more single-parent families than in past generations due to divorce and unwed mothers. Even in those families with two parents, however, the need for both to work means that they have less time to devote to their children and their education. The "latch-key" syndrome, children who come home to empty houses with no one to supervise them, has contributed to the problem by providing students with the free time to become involved in other less noble activities. They may also feel less cared for and have less time to share their feelings with parents.
The important role parents play cannot be ignored. Violence prevention programs that have incorporated parental involvement have met with more success than programs ignoring this factor.
Lack of parental involvement may not be the sole factor leading a child to violence as a solution. Personality traits may combine with troubles at home. Low-achieving students are the most likely to be involved in school violence incidents (Boothe et. a
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