Trending
It starts with parenting.
That role -- that oh-so-very important-job -- is the key to raising a good and decent child.
Oh, it isn't easy and kids don't always react the right way to good parenting.
But being involved with your kids and their emotional well-being is the basis for talking about problems -- particularly fights -- occurring at Central Mountain High School.
The most recent incident has a 17-year-old female student allegedly attacking another student in a restroom at CMHS, causing serious injuries to the victim.
That was followed by crude posts on social media, some of which were completely inaccurate and served only to pour gasoline on the firestorm of sadness and alarm created by this kind of behavior in our schools.
And of course, with cell phones pervasive among students at school, the incident was videotaped by other some students who thought recording the attack was more important than trying to stop it. (It's sad schools also have to be the social media police.)
The attack at CMHS was so vicious that the district attorney said he intends to file charges of aggravated assault, a first-degree felony; simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor; and recklessly endangering another person, a second-degree misdemeanor
One student testifying about violence at last Thursday's board meeting said the victim "was lucky she wasn't killed."
That incident was among seven fights at CMHS since school started and two additional incidents involving alcohol.
Yet, we know of other incidents that occur but go unreported.
And we know other area schools face similar challenges.
We also know teachers face unruly students pretty much on a daily basis.
And sadly, those unruly students are misbehaving at younger ages.
Where are the parents?
Where is their accountability in these situations?
What are they doing to prevent violence?
Are parents talking to their kids about school and whether they're having a hard time with others?
Parents need to be partners with their children's teachers and school administrators.
Parents must enforce schools' behavior policies -- starting at home.
We encourage school leaders to quickly address the fighting and we further encourage them to make sure disciplinary action is taken and that parents are also involved in enforcing that discipline.
We also ask student leaders to play a role here by talking to their peers. No one wants students going to school fearing another fight. Instead, let's fight for a more positive, safe and productive atmosphere in our schools.