Dear Editor: I am completing a requirement for a Communication Scout Merit badge project with Troop 713 from Swansboro NC. I am a middle school student from Jacksonville NC. This is my opinion on making schools safer. Parents, teachers, and Public Safety Officers working together to teach children skills to settle arguments and misunderstandings through communication can help stop students from choosing violence. Parents should give children real word examples of why violence is bad. Adding a no violence class, quiz, or announcement weekly or monthly can help reduce fights in school so that we can learn and feel safer. Field trips to the Center of Public Safety and lessons from our Safety Officers could help children the life they don't want.