As the shouting escalates, it emits a gravitational pull towards nearby students. They come from every direction to see what the commotion is about, but most already know what is going on. Naturally, a circle encloses around the chaos and the students observe with anticipation. Most reach into their pockets to pull out their cell phones, anxious to share the news with the rest of the student body. But just before a battle ensues, a teacher interferes to break up the conflict.
After being in session for a little over two months, the school has already seen its fair share of violence. Though in most instances a physical brawl has been avoided, the fact that numerous fights have almost broken out is unsettling. The school does a fine job of punishing those students directly involved in the skirmishes; however, it has not had any success in reducing the number of quarrels that take place. Instead, the district should look towards penalizing the other students who watch as the action unfolds.
According to the Parkway School District’s Code of Conduct, “Students are prohibited from fighting or entering a fight in progress and from failing to disperse when instructed to do so.”
The code of conduct addresses the fighters and how they must separate when told, but it is not directed towards the teens who serve as spectators. When word gets out that a fight is about to occur, students instantly crowd around and watch. Perhaps they do so for entertainment purposes. Wrestling is known for being staged and phony, so when students hear about the opportunity to watch students throw punches and insults at one another, they pounce on it. But what they fail to realize is that they serve as fodder for the fight.
People are known to embrace attention. They want to make themselves look better when others are there to watch. That same exact principal is involved in the boxing ring that students form when a fight breaks out. The two competitors on the inside notice the audience around them watching with amazement. It fuels the situation. They make the event more dramatic than it has to be, just to satisfy others.
Students also make it difficult for faculty to put an end to the confrontation. With a blockade of students surrounding the action, it becomes difficult for teachers and administrators to break through and intervene. Serious injuries could result if fights are not put down in time. Therefore, the district needs to make sure students are held accountable if they are watching a fight unravel.
According to the Ferguson-Florissant School District’s 2012-2013 Student Code of Conduct, students are not permitted to encourage other students to take part in violence or other forms of school disruption.
In essence, those students attending the Ferguson-Florissant School District are punished for simply watching and supporting a fight. These consequences prevent students from promoting any types of violence, and ultimately make the school a safer and more peaceful place.
The school district should seriously consider implementing a similar policy into its current code of conduct. Too many fights have already occurred this year, and as long as students are not chastised for encouraging such disputes, the amount of violence in schools will continue to grow.