Violence in schools from the perspective of its actors. The case of a high school in Mexico City

Abstract

This article aims to analyze some forms of violence that take place in a public high school in the Federal District, in such a way to surface the factors underlying it. To achieve this, a qualitative Research methodology was used as the most appropriate mean to understand the link between violent considered social facts and perceptions and judgments that subjects build on these facts in situations of interaction enrolled in the school context. Based on the observation records and speeches of teachers and students in this school we argue that forms of general conflict characterized by conflicting relationships between students and teachers, ending with symbolic, emotional and gestural violence occur. Also forms of physical violence manifested in melee fighting, horseplay and isolated cases of violence against teachers. The findings suggested that in some cases, the school is directly involved and in other cases the problems of violence are interwoven with other social and cultural factors that give power and meaning.