Examining violence in schools

Why do people continue to fight?
Jalen Stewart
Sports Editor

  Anyone who has ever witnessed a school fight can attest to the chaos, violence, and how quickly it can escalate into something serious. There have been much discussion as to why this happens and what can be done about it. People have always questioned this violence and will continue to.
  “I have always thought that fighting is pointless and should not occur in school. I think you can find better ways to deal with the problem rather than fighting it out,” said Jared Jenkins, junior.
  School violence is not just something that can be seen in your community but is can be a problem for schools nationwide. According to CDC.gov, nearly 24% of high school students had been in a physical fight one or more times.
  “I feel like people are willing to fight because the punishment is not stiff enough. I think that if people know that they’re just going to be suspended, then people would not be scared to fight,” said Skylar Graves, junior.
  Another student, Izzy Rodrigues, has actually been in a physical fight on school grounds. He thought this was a big factor as to why teens think it is okay to fight.
  “Fighting was not worth all of the consequences that came my way. But to others who fight for different reasons it might [be worth the consequences], because the reason they are fighting might seem bigger than the punishment they will receive,” said Rodrigues.
  Big efforts are made every year by districts and schools across the nation, including Freedom, which should not go unnoticed. People must understand that it ultimately comes down to people making the right decision and choosing to use their self control. Students such as Skylar Graves have seen these changes and feel that they should continue to be built on.
  “I feel like there should be even more authorities in the halls then there already are. They should spot people arguing and try to calm the situation down as quickly as possible,” said Graves.
  Students must have each others’ backs when it comes to violence. They should have the knowledge to see when people are having differences to not ‘egg’ them on. Being mature enough to diffuse the situation can stop it from escalating into a dangerous situation.

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