Principals’ and teachers’ experience and strategies in handling student violence in secondary schools: Examples from Sweden.

Sammanfattning: This study examines principals’ and teachers’ experiences in dealing with school violence in Sweden. Threats and violence in Swedish schools increased fivefold between 2013 and 2017, according to Sveriges Television. Statistics from the Work Environment Agency also revealed that school violence and threats have increased. In 2018, there was an increase in the number of reports from elementary, middle, and high school students with a total of 870 reports. This increase in school violence raised concern and the need to manage and reduce violence incidents in Swedish schools. The study looked at the nature of student violence experienced by principals and teachers in Swedish secondary schools, as well as the causes of student violence and the methods used by secondary school principals and teachers when managing violence, in order to explore the experiences and tactics used by principals and teachers in handling student violence. The study was conducted by employing Bronfenbrenner’s ecological system theory. A qualitative research approach was utilized in investigating the nature of teachers’ and principals’ experiences in dealing with school violence. The literature review and empirical data revealed that secondary school teachers and principals are currently dealing with various incidents of student violence in their schools, including physical assault and weapon use, bullying, aggressive resistance, gangsterism, and verbal abuse cause by different factors. This study also reveals what principals and teachers believe can help control student violence and reduce aggressive behaviour in Swedish secondary schools. The proposals are directed at teachers, principals, schools, new teachers, teacher preparation programs, and local governments.