Fostering Safe Schools for All: Zero Violence Since Early Childhood

• In Event: Radical Love: Preventing Violence in Our Schools

Abstract

1. Objectives
In this paper, we present the contribution of preventive socialization developed by Gomez (2015), as a tool for the prevention of school violence from 0 years old.

2. Theoretical framework
Violence is increasingly visible among children (Observatory of Gender Violence, 2015). Socialization starts from the early childhood (Berger, & Luckmann, 1966). Valls, Puigvert and Duque (2008) argue that violence is rooted in the socialization of the attraction towards violence, which is influenced by both the peer group and the media (Gentile, Coyne & Walsh, 2011).

Brain research (Shonkoff, 2007) has indicated that it is at the very early stages when we can most effectively influence our children’ attraction choices. Therefore, in line with the social nature of love claimed by Gomez (2015), promoting attraction patterns towards non-violent behaviors since birth is possible and crucial.

3. Methods, techniques, or modes of inquiry
A case study in a pre-primary and primary education school, between 2013 and 2014, has been conducted.

4. Data sources, evidence, objects, or materials
The data collection entailed: 1) observation of school meetings; 2) 1 interview with the head of the teachers’ association; 3) analysis of documentation (33 assessments written by teachers); 4) 1 working group related to gender violence prevention in schools.

5. Results
Our study shows that common violent actions (i.e. biting) are considered an emotional expression, frequently contested with forcing the victim to be kissed by the perpetrator as a sign of forgiveness. These responses contribute to educating children in accepting violence. The Dialogic Model of Conflict Prevention contributes to establishing a safe environment on the premise of ‘zero tolerance to violence’. Children learn to respect each other, to refuse the perpetrator and to support the victim. Schools implementing this intervention contribute to prevent the mainstream socialization of attraction towards violence.

6. Scientific significance of the study or work
Gomez’s theory, grounded in the social nature of attraction, becomes a critical tool in early childhood education as a means for eliminating any kind of gender-related oppression. The model presented is already socializing children into choosing relationships free of violence during their childhood, what makes more likely to have more positive intimate relationships later in adolescence.

Authors

• Beatriz Carballido Villarejo, Universitat de Barcelona

• Pilar Alvarez, Loyola University Andalucía

• Guiomar Merodio, University of Barcelona