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Quash school conflicts
before more violence erupts

THE ISSUE Oahu has seen a series of brawls among students at public high schools.

A RECENT string of fights at public high schools on Oahu might be unrelated, but point to a need for school officials, parents and students to cool down.

Disciplining those who start or become involved in the clashes should be carried out swiftly to quell any more disturbances. Education officials should call in parents and children to discuss the issue and tighten security if need be.

Summoning police officers might have been warranted at Nanakuli High & Intermediate Monday because of continuing disturbances there, but the presence of police can also sharpen tensions on campus.

Balancing that with a need for security isn't easy. However, principals and other administrators must be mindful of possibly exacerbating a situation. In addition, police officers must remember that they are dealing with students and that certain actions, such as buzzing the campus with a helicopter as they did at Nanakuli, might heighten an already stressful atmosphere.

The incident at Nanakuli followed fights at Radford that stemmed from a beef after a basketball game and that drew claims of racism. A few days later, five Waipahu students were arrested after one allegedly assaulted a police officer. Last Friday, Waianae's campus was locked down because of student fighting.

Department of Education officials are doing the right thing in meeting with principals and reviewing safety and emergency policies.

They should take this further by meeting with parents, teachers and students in an attempt to sort out the reasons for the fights. Parents and children should be made aware of safety and student behavior policies, how to deal with conflicts and whom to talk to about them.

The DOE also should consider limiting the use of cell phones during school hours, which Nanakuli Vice Principal Flora Nash says contributes to the escalation of the clashes. One fight last week resulted when a girl, harassed by a group of boys, called her brother who brought his friends to retaliate. Students would do better to report troublemakers to school administrators who can correct or punish them.

Officials are at a lost to explain the unusual chain of frays, which they say is coincidental. Nonetheless, reports indicate that students -- having seen the attention from news media at Radford -- are seeking similar notice. Clayton Fujie, assistant schools superintendent, also suggests as much, saying coverage at Radford might have sparked copycats.

If so, we hope other schools also copy Radford's other facet. Not wanting their school's reputation to be one of rowdiness, they displayed signs and placards last week, showing they prize their education and fellow students.