School is supposed to be a safe place where we can go to learn, socialize, and get an education so that we can have a stable life. However, there has been a rise in fights in our school this past year, and it has caused a lot of unnecessary distractions for both students and staff here at JSEC. 

  Recently the newspaper club went around the school asking students questions about the violence at the school and how they felt about it. A lot of the responses we received related to how the students didn’t feel comfortable in the current atmosphere that they were in. The majority of the students said that they would feel better if we had security around the school, while others said it would be better to kick out the kids who start the fights because the suspensions aren’t working anymore. 

About 1 in 3 school leaders noticed an uptick in student fights or physical attacks this past school year that they believed were brought on by the pandemic and its lingering effects, new federal data show. In addition, more than half of school leaders reported an increase in classroom disruptions from student misconduct for the same reason. (Chalkbeat.com)

   Along with the rise of fights and other things that have been going on at this school, the student council and administration have been talking about an uprising program that talks about anti-violence, peer mediation, and how to stop a conflict before it starts in hopes for a decrease in violence at our school.

   “Bottom line is this violence must stop!  Too many kids are hanging in an office down the hallway, not doing anything, just eating food while others are actually in class doing work ”-Angel Nunez

“It’s bad thats some kids are constantly stirring trouble and fights and it makes many of us feel insecure and unsafe, fear has no place here at JSEC”  Bayron Chivalan  

“Why doesn’nt our school’s have metal detectors, because the way kids talk most people are bringing in weapons for self-defense, that metal detector could be going off alot each day” -Anonymous

“The school has not had detention in all the years I’ve been here…so with no detention, aka…consequence, of course the behavors will be repeated and potentially get worse” -Anonymous

“Kids come to JSEC for a good time, they can stay in hallways, not go to class, and cause problems and never get in trouble for it while the rest of us good kids are trying to pass our classes” -Anonymous

“One of the main issue that bothers me are kids rushing to the fight and whipping out phones and recording then posting then texting about it to their friend which causes more problems and future fights and violence.”

“We just saw a student from Hope HS stab a student from MPHS at Kennedy Plaza last week, when is this going to stop?

-Anonymous

   Along with the rise of fights and other things that have been going on at this school, the student council and administration have been talking about an uprising program that talks about anti-violence, peer mediation, and how to stop a conflict before it starts in hopes for a decrease in violence at our school.    One of the student Council’s main goals this year is to highlight the great things happening here and to address the issues that seem to hold our school back from reaching it’s full potential.  We welcome ALL students to join us in this quest.