TEACHERS AND STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS ABOUT SCHOOL VIOLENCE: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

ABSTRACT The study aimed to understand the perceptions of elementary and high school students and teachers about school violence. This is a qualitative study that used the focus group as a form of data collection. Physical and verbal violence were the most common responses about identified forms of school violence. Psychological and socioeconomic factors, damage to family relationships, personal and educational problems were identified as predisposing factors for the occurrence of different forms of school violence. Educational actions, participation of the public authorities in a punitive manner (police) and the presence of psychology, psychiatry and social assistance professionals were identified as measures to curb school violence, in addition to greater family involvement in the school. It is understood that school violence can be faced through the valorization of human rights and the joint action of the school, family and community.