blame social networking
By Loretta Park
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
Last updated
Saturday, January 22, 2011 - 8:26pm
http://www.standard.net/topics/schools/2011/01/22/school-fights-more-violent-some-blame-social-networking
School officials and police officers are concerned that fights in schools are becoming more aggressive and violent, and they believe e-mail, texts and social networking are at the root of that escalation.
Suzanne Buchanne, director of the at-risk population with Davis School District, said, "I'm seeing more assertive/aggressive behavior."
Although she could not pinpoint a specific reason why, Buchanne thinks e-mail, texts and social networking are playing a huge role.
In the past, when several students were mad at each other, they would go to class or go home and time would allow tempers and feelings to cool down, she said.
Now, students text and e-mail each other, as well as post remarks on social networking sites, such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, Buchanne said.
"Now, I've got all my buddies involved; and it's not just boys doing this either," she said.
Recently, an incident erupted at a Davis County high school in which social networking was believed to have played a role. A 19-year-old is still in an area hospital with a brain injury following the fight at Viewmont High School.
"He has a significant head injury," said Bountiful Police Chief Tom Ross.
Ross said the fight that landed Spencer Spilman in a hospital happened on Jan. 10 in the school's parking lot during school hours.
"Fights are not so shocking," Ross said. "But what is (shocking) is how quickly, in a short period of time, we had kids gathered in one place for a fight."
He blames social media and texting.
Students from Woods Cross and Bountiful high schools have been implicated in the fight.
News of fight
News that a fight would be taking place traveled in a matter of seconds, bringing students from neighboring cities to the parking lot, officials said. Police spent the next 48 hours, working overtime, investigating how many students were involved.
Three juveniles are facing aggravated assault charges, which in an adult court could be a second-degree felony. Also, at least six more students could be charged with misdemeanor offenses, such as disorderly conduct or fighting, Ross said.
But the aggressiveness and intensity of that fight, as well as another one earlier in January after a basketball game between Viewmont and Davis high schools, has officials concerned.
Consequences
Parents need to talk to their teenagers about the consequences of getting involved in fights, Buchanne said. It's not just bruises or black eyes, that will heal in a few days.
Instead, a student can find herself/himself without a school to attend, she said.
"They just don't think what the long-term consequences are," Buchanne said.
Students involved in fighting, as well as bringing weapons to a school, can be expelled for up to a year. If the incident is serious enough, the student could be expelled from every school in Davis School District, Buchanne said.
"And other districts can uphold that expulsion," Buchanne said. "I don't think people realize that. We don't have to offer them any services."
Principal Chris Keime at Fairfield Junior High School in Kaysville said students are taught at the beginning of the year how to deal with conflicts maturely and what the district's safe school policy is.
But social networks and electronics are making it difficult for students to deal with disagreements, he said.
"It's hard for kids, especially when their honor has been hurt," Keime said.
But at least statistically, kids might be getting the message.
Overall, fights or violent acts in schools are not increasing, but instead decreasing, not only in Davis School District, but statewide and nationally.
Decreases
According to a 2010 Bureau of Justice Statistics report, in 2003, 9.2 percent of ninth-grade to 12th-grade students, nationwide, reported being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property. In 2007, that percentage decreased to 7.8 and decreased again in 2009 to 7.7 percent.
In Utah, 7.3 percent of ninth-grade to 12th-grade students in 2003 reported being injured or threatened with a weapon on school property, according to the report. In 2007, that percentage increased to 11.4, but then dropped in 2009 to 7.7 percent.
Some of that decrease statistically could be attributed to the programs schools are putting in place.
Parents at North Layton Junior High volunteer to patrol the hallways during the lunch hour, which helps keep the peace, said Assistant Principal James Gordon.
Students are also told if there is a conflict or they feel afraid, they can find an adult -- a teacher or administrator -- who can help them get through the conflict.
Conflict resolution
Overall, most students are good kids; but several weeks ago friction between two North Layton students escalated due to social networking and texting, and there was a fight, he said.
Gordon said parents should teach their children how to resolve conflicts without using technology. One way is to use appropriate behavior when they disagree with someone else.
He said teenagers are very much aware of current events and see how adults handle disagreements.
"They can see there are very clear disagreements between Democrats and Republicans," Gordon said. "I agree with President (Barack) Obama that we should sit down at the table and talk about disagreements and what is the actual conflict."
Also, parents need to know what students are watching, not only on TV, but what they are seeing on the computer, what they are reading in books and who they are communicating with, Gordon said.
"I really feel technology is fast outpacing our students' judgement and they're dealing with adult issues," Gordon said.
Technology allows anyone, including teenagers, to hide behind a screen and become a different person, he said.
"What is written shocks not only the parents, but me," said Gordon, who has been an educator for 17 years.
MY THOUGHTS
i wonder if the same is happening here. and i really don't think we should blame social networking sites. we cannot stop the world from evolving. and we should not stop trying to cope with these changes called 'development'.
i know, it's a lot simpler for moms and dads and teachers when technology was not this advanced. you tell your kid he/she is grounded and that's it. nowadays, you tell them they are grounded and you confiscate the computer and the cellphone,too.
this is why strong values have to be inculcated. at home and in school. strong values that are not just taught but exemplified. values that will arm us and the kids against the evils of technology.
come to think of it, technology is not evil. we are the ones who make it so.
By Loretta Park
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
Last updated
Saturday, January 22, 2011 - 8:26pm
http://www.standard.net/topics/schools/2011/01/22/school-fights-more-violent-some-blame-social-networking
School officials and police officers are concerned that fights in schools are becoming more aggressive and violent, and they believe e-mail, texts and social networking are at the root of that escalation.
Suzanne Buchanne, director of the at-risk population with Davis School District, said, "I'm seeing more assertive/aggressive behavior."
Although she could not pinpoint a specific reason why, Buchanne thinks e-mail, texts and social networking are playing a huge role.
In the past, when several students were mad at each other, they would go to class or go home and time would allow tempers and feelings to cool down, she said.
Now, students text and e-mail each other, as well as post remarks on social networking sites, such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, Buchanne said.
"Now, I've got all my buddies involved; and it's not just boys doing this either," she said.
Recently, an incident erupted at a Davis County high school in which social networking was believed to have played a role. A 19-year-old is still in an area hospital with a brain injury following the fight at Viewmont High School.
"He has a significant head injury," said Bountiful Police Chief Tom Ross.
Ross said the fight that landed Spencer Spilman in a hospital happened on Jan. 10 in the school's parking lot during school hours.
"Fights are not so shocking," Ross said. "But what is (shocking) is how quickly, in a short period of time, we had kids gathered in one place for a fight."
He blames social media and texting.
Students from Woods Cross and Bountiful high schools have been implicated in the fight.
News of fight
News that a fight would be taking place traveled in a matter of seconds, bringing students from neighboring cities to the parking lot, officials said. Police spent the next 48 hours, working overtime, investigating how many students were involved.
Three juveniles are facing aggravated assault charges, which in an adult court could be a second-degree felony. Also, at least six more students could be charged with misdemeanor offenses, such as disorderly conduct or fighting, Ross said.
But the aggressiveness and intensity of that fight, as well as another one earlier in January after a basketball game between Viewmont and Davis high schools, has officials concerned.
Consequences
Parents need to talk to their teenagers about the consequences of getting involved in fights, Buchanne said. It's not just bruises or black eyes, that will heal in a few days.
Instead, a student can find herself/himself without a school to attend, she said.
"They just don't think what the long-term consequences are," Buchanne said.
Students involved in fighting, as well as bringing weapons to a school, can be expelled for up to a year. If the incident is serious enough, the student could be expelled from every school in Davis School District, Buchanne said.
"And other districts can uphold that expulsion," Buchanne said. "I don't think people realize that. We don't have to offer them any services."
Principal Chris Keime at Fairfield Junior High School in Kaysville said students are taught at the beginning of the year how to deal with conflicts maturely and what the district's safe school policy is.
But social networks and electronics are making it difficult for students to deal with disagreements, he said.
"It's hard for kids, especially when their honor has been hurt," Keime said.
But at least statistically, kids might be getting the message.
Overall, fights or violent acts in schools are not increasing, but instead decreasing, not only in Davis School District, but statewide and nationally.
Decreases
According to a 2010 Bureau of Justice Statistics report, in 2003, 9.2 percent of ninth-grade to 12th-grade students, nationwide, reported being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property. In 2007, that percentage decreased to 7.8 and decreased again in 2009 to 7.7 percent.
In Utah, 7.3 percent of ninth-grade to 12th-grade students in 2003 reported being injured or threatened with a weapon on school property, according to the report. In 2007, that percentage increased to 11.4, but then dropped in 2009 to 7.7 percent.
Some of that decrease statistically could be attributed to the programs schools are putting in place.
Parents at North Layton Junior High volunteer to patrol the hallways during the lunch hour, which helps keep the peace, said Assistant Principal James Gordon.
Students are also told if there is a conflict or they feel afraid, they can find an adult -- a teacher or administrator -- who can help them get through the conflict.
Conflict resolution
Overall, most students are good kids; but several weeks ago friction between two North Layton students escalated due to social networking and texting, and there was a fight, he said.
Gordon said parents should teach their children how to resolve conflicts without using technology. One way is to use appropriate behavior when they disagree with someone else.
He said teenagers are very much aware of current events and see how adults handle disagreements.
"They can see there are very clear disagreements between Democrats and Republicans," Gordon said. "I agree with President (Barack) Obama that we should sit down at the table and talk about disagreements and what is the actual conflict."
Also, parents need to know what students are watching, not only on TV, but what they are seeing on the computer, what they are reading in books and who they are communicating with, Gordon said.
"I really feel technology is fast outpacing our students' judgement and they're dealing with adult issues," Gordon said.
Technology allows anyone, including teenagers, to hide behind a screen and become a different person, he said.
"What is written shocks not only the parents, but me," said Gordon, who has been an educator for 17 years.
MY THOUGHTS
i wonder if the same is happening here. and i really don't think we should blame social networking sites. we cannot stop the world from evolving. and we should not stop trying to cope with these changes called 'development'.
i know, it's a lot simpler for moms and dads and teachers when technology was not this advanced. you tell your kid he/she is grounded and that's it. nowadays, you tell them they are grounded and you confiscate the computer and the cellphone,too.
this is why strong values have to be inculcated. at home and in school. strong values that are not just taught but exemplified. values that will arm us and the kids against the evils of technology.
come to think of it, technology is not evil. we are the ones who make it so.
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