School Violence, Childhood and Poverty: Perspectives of Primary School Students

School violence must be understood in terms of its relationship to the people, organizations, and cultures that surround it. It is interesting to be aware of the views of elementary school children on this subject, particularly in social segments that are marginalized and vulnerable due to conditions of injustice and poverty, since their voices are often less represented in the school culture. Considering this scenario, we conducted a qualitative investigation in an elementary school, in which 100% of the students were in conditions of social and educational vulnerability. Acts of violence also occurred frequently at the school. The objective was to find out about the meanings constructed regarding violence and how it is managed in the school. The results indicate everyday experiences of boredom in the classroom, which some students accepted, while others sought to abscond from classes or interrupt them through fights or destruction of furniture. The students who took part in these actions were attended to by teachers and support professionals, unlike those who observed or received aggression. The participants expressed proposals to improve coexistence in the school and in the classroom.