Alerj proposes actions to combat violence in schools

To discuss the problem of violence in public schools, the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) held a public hearing, with the theme Violence at school and against school. The meeting brought together hundreds of people, including specialists in Education, Public Health and Social Assistance, students and parents of students. A group of more than 100 researchers from universities and institutes in several states released a document proposing a set of actions to combat structural violence in schools. Among them: control of possession and circulation of weapons, fighting bullying, actions to mediate conflicts, continuing cultural and leisure activities and valuing young people, and an educational policy based on respect for diversity. “There are numerous initiatives already carried out and evaluated in this regard (respect for diversity) that really make a difference in the school routine”, evaluated Suely Ferreira Deslandes, social scientist and Master in Public Health at the National Institute for Women, Children and Adolescents Fernandes Figueira (IFF/Fiocruz), which also signs the document. Deputy Carla Machado (PT) once again defended more state investment in the psychosocial monitoring of students and spoke of her bill to create the State Council for School Safety, aimed at preventing all forms of violence in the school environment. “The problem is not just in the educational field. We need to seek peaceful solutions to this problem that is so complex at its origin, through public policies that seek effective solutions. It takes a joint effort to protect children and adolescents,” she said. . Deputy Munir Neto (PSD), president of Alerj’s Committee on Children, Adolescents and Elderly Affairs said he will forward the document to Governor Cláudio Castro and to the Secretary of Education, Roberta Barreto. “An attack on a school is not an isolated event. It’s part of a clearly flawed ecosystem. And taking care of children and adolescents is a duty of society as a whole”. Mediation of conflicts Psychologist Naura dos Santos Americano, from the Society for Mediation of Conflicts (Somec-RJ), told her experience as a mediator of conflicts for the Court of Justice of the State of Rio de Janeiro (TJRJ). Until 2018, as part of an agreement with the state government, she and another TJ professional trained more than 300 teachers to mediate conflicts in state schools. The experience, according to Naura, could be replicated in the current context, as a preventive measure. “Conflicts erupt into violent behavior. In mediation, different voices are heard and we open spaces for speaking and listening to students and teachers. It is not something magical, it requires continuity and permanent action so that they can feel belonging to that space, ”she explained. Father of young Larissa Atanázio, 13 years old, one of the 12 victims of the massacre at the Tasso da Silveira School, in Realengo, west of Rio, in 2011, Robson Atanázio demanded more teachers, psychologists and inspectors in schools, in addition to installing metal detectors. “There has to be a psychologist at the school to identify the children’s problems and call the parents to talk. If you have a more serious family problem, you need to take it to the family clinic for treatment”. Mental problems The director of the State Union of Education Professionals (Sepe-RJ), Diogo Andrade, presented a scenario of the mental health of education professionals, aggravated by the violence imposed in police operations in communities. According to him, of every three leaves due to illness, one is related to Psychiatry, which points to the urgent need to implement a set of actions that improve working conditions. According to Andrade, there is a deficit of 2,000 education professionals in the state today, including mediators to monitor students with disabilities and disorders. “The level of Education in the State of Rio is the worst in the country. In Acre it is better. Here there are workers receiving less than the minimum wage”, he denounced, stating that this Thursday (11) the category will decide whether to go on strike in the state.

Agência Brasil