Fight sends DeKalb high school student to hospital the day after 3 teenagers were arrested in another fight – WSB-TV Channel 2

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Another fight broke out today at a DeKalb County high school where three teenagers were arrested for fighting on Tuesday, leaving one teenager injured.

Channel 2’s Tyisha Fernandes was at Towers High School, where some students said they were afraid to go to school after a series of fights.

Video of Tuesday’s brawl showed at least a dozen students involved in a fight in a hallway.

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Fernandes learned that of the three teenagers arrested on Tuesday, one was charged as an adult. Towers’ manager injured her knee trying to break up the fight.

On Wednesday, a student left school on a stretcher after yet another big fight. It’s unclear how many students were involved or how severe the teenager’s injuries were.

The students told Fernandes they thought the fighting at Towers was gang-related. Others said the students started the fights just so they could post them on social media.

Fernandes spoke to a student who did not want to be identified, but said he was afraid of all the fights not just at Towers, but at schools in the metro Atlanta area.

During the bathroom brawl at Newton High School earlier this month, a student who was attacked in a bathroom had to be taken to hospital.

“There was a stab wound to Newton and a child was left on a stretcher,” he said. “And that same day there was a gang-related fight that was posted on Instagram. I know people who carry knives to school for protection and that’s… I feel like it shouldn’t be like that in high school.

Newton County School Officials, there was no stabbing incident at the school.

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A teenage girl agreed the fighting was out of control.

“There are fights almost every week,” she said. “One of the recent fights we had, one of the girls dislocated her finger,” she said.

Students Fernandes spoke to said the kids who started the fights simply weren’t afraid of being suspended or arrested, and school administrators were overwhelmed.

“I would say (schools) need to add more security and have someone watching every room as much as possible,” said one student.

Fernandes contacted DeKalb County Superintendent to ask if there is a plan to stop the fighting, but did not hear back.

DeKalb County Schools released the following statement:

“A physical altercation involving multiple students occurred yesterday morning at Towers High School. The school’s administrators, staff and DCSD Public Safety acted quickly to separate those involved. The school has been placed under lockdown. to ensure containment of the incident, which is standard protocol in situations like this.Two school employees were slightly injured.They were assessed and treated by medical personnel.Students involved in Incidents like this are subject to charges and law enforcement consequences, as outlined in the District’s Student Code of Conduct.

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Fernandes also sent a list of questions to Newton County Schools Superintendent Samantha Fuhrey. His responses read:

Do you think Newton HS needs more security?

Newton High School currently has several School Resource Officers assigned to the school to ensure a safe learning and working environment for our students and staff. In addition, the school system employs a school safety coordinator who works closely with school resource officers, local law enforcement officials, and school administrators.

Do you think a lot of students fight to be able to post it on social media?

Students have multiple reasons to fight and social media often plays a role. It is important to note that our schools are a microcosm of our communities. When fights occur on the school campus, they are often the result of something that happened at home in the student’s neighborhood or local community. They bring problems with them into the school environment. When school officials are made aware of possible situations, they do everything they can to alleviate the problem. This is where we can use the help of our parents and the greater community. If you hear of a situation, please report it to the school.

What can be done to stop all fighting?

We studied the data and the fights are actually at a five-year low at Newton High School. We are seeing less, not more fighting on campus as we enforce our student code of conduct and let everyone know that fighting will not be tolerated at school. In addition to disciplinary action, students involved in fights on campus may also face criminal charges. Our school and our district do not just operate on a reactionary basis. We have several supports in place to prevent issues such as fights before they occur. For example, Newton High School and other schools in our district use positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) to create atmospheres where all students can succeed.

We have a video of teachers pulling students’ hair to break up a fight at Newton HS, any response to the gravity of the situation?

Once again, fighting at Newton High School is at a five-year low. We are not aware of this incident, but if parents have any video footage they would like to share with us, they are encouraged to do so.

How do you make the students feel safe? We spoke to students who are afraid to go to school. Middle Clements and Newton HS

We have always encouraged any student or parent with a safety concern to contact a school administrator or resource officer for assistance. Once we are notified of a problem, we take steps to investigate and respond, including notifying parents for their support.

We repeatedly emphasize the code of conduct and the consequences of physical confrontation between and among students at school. We encourage and appreciate parents who also reinforce it at home.

Finally, as always, student safety is our top priority every moment of every day. Conflicts between students are not a new phenomenon. There is no single cause or motivation for all instances of student conflict. What is consistent in all cases is that students who violate the Code of Conduct are dealt with promptly, consistently, and in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.