School Violence: The SAVE Program

The National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere, or SAVE, was created by students from around the country, and meant to educate students on the growing problem of school violence. Worldwide attention seems to only be focused on incidents such as the school shooting at Littleton, Colorado’s Columbine High School. While the less severe forms of violence such as outbursts that result in physical assaults, verbal assaults, bullying, public ridicule and discrimination, are often over looked as “part of growing up”. SAVE promotes non-violence within the public and private school systems and community, as well as provides education about the effects and consequences of violent acts. SAVE strives to focus attention to all forms of violence, not just the cases of violence that result in death or injury. SAVE also works to provide safe alternative activities within the community for students, parents, and care givers. The program was originally started by Angelena Bynum, a student, and Gary Weart, a teacher, from West Charlotte High School in North Carolina, in 1989 in memory of Alex Orange, a student from their school. Alex was shot while trying to break up a fight at a party.

The SAVE program can be implemented as an addition to regular school curriculum in elementary schools, or as a club in middle schools, high schools, colleges, and community organizations .

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