Fed report says
crime not rising
at schools

Theft, not assault or robbery,
seems to be the major
offense in schools

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

A 12-year-old boy is arrested for robbing another boy at knife point for 50 cents.

A 13-year-old boy is accused of threatening another with scissors, saying: "I'm gonna get you later."

An 11-year-old girl is arrested for slapping another student and stealing her glasses.

A high school student is arrested for threatening a teacher and a security guard.

These incidents reported over the last two weeks at Hawaii's public schools may appear to reflect an increase in school-related violence. But officials say violent crime is not increasing on campus.

And the federal government's first comprehensive report on school safety released yesterday shows students are safer in school than away from school.

The report opened a White House conference on school violence today with officials emphasizing the importance of paying more attention to the issue. "Schools are safer in a slight percentage in terms of overall criminal acts," Education Secretary Richard Riley said, "but any criminal act, any act of violence, makes it worthy to improve. It still is a major concern of ours."

About 10 of every 1,000 students ages 12 to 18 were victims of a violent crime in school, compared with 28 out of 1,000 away from school, the report said.

Fewer students were bringing weapons to school, and nine out of 10 public schools reported no violent crime at all. And despite the rash of shootings in school yards across America last school year, homicides are rare, the report showed.

Thefts, not assault or robbery, appeared to be the biggest school-related problem.

In 1996, 62 percent of all crime against students involved thefts, with 79 thefts for every 1,000 students ages 12 to 18, the report said.

Also, four of every 1,000 teachers were victims of a serious violent crime. And on average, there were 46 thefts for every 1,000 teachers between 1993 to 1996.

Overall, school-related crime dropped between 1993 and 1996, mirroring a decrease in offenses reported in Hawaii schools between 1995 and 1997.

School officials here do not dismiss any incident, no matter how minor, as insignificant. Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu has said any disruption or any form of violence is too much.

Officials and students agree principals are more vigilant of behavior that threatens safety on campus.

"There's no evidence of increasing violent activity or threatening atmosphere at our schools," said Greg Knudsen, Department of Education spokesman. "The schools are among the safest and most comforting environments in a community."

In Hawaii, disorderly conduct by students appears to be more of a problem than are violent offenses, according to school incident reports filed by principals in the 1995-96 and 1996-97 school years, the most recent figures available.

There were 3,846 reports of disorderly conduct in 1996-97, compared with 4,076 the year before. Harassment came in second with 1,115 incidents, followed by assault, with 815 incidents.

Theft, with 654 reports, was the sixth most reported offense in 1996-97; it was fifth a year before.

Schools today are faced with not simply educating students academically but socially, said Ted Fisher, principal at Aiea Intermediate. "The challenge to keep our schools safe is greater, but administrators are recognizing that challenge and responding to it."