State sees drop in fistfights at schools

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000 | 10:10 a.m.

Nevada high schools had the biggest reduction in the number of student fist fights but did not finish among the top 10 states in reducing violence, a national study says.

Nor did Nevada high schools make the top 10 in seven other categories that were ranked in a 51-page study published this month by the National Education Goals Panel -- Ready to Learn, School Completion, Student Achievement, Teacher Education, Math and Science, Adult Literacy and Parental Participation.

The study did not list bottom 10 rankings for the categories.

Nevada's mention in the report came in the category entitled "Safe, Disciplined and Alcohol and Drug-Free Schools." The report says the state reduced "physical fights" in schools, from 20 percent in 1993 to 15 percent in 1997, the latest year for which statistical data was available.

"Nevada is the only state that has significantly reduced the percentage of students who engage in physical fights at school," says the report by the 10-year-old agency that includes federal and state officials.

Despite the improvement, that 15 percent of students who engage in fights still put the state outside the top 10 in that category, with South Dakota at the top with only 11 percent and nine other states doing better with 13 percent.

Nevada did not get a mention among the best states in two other violence-related categories: high school teachers reporting threats and physical attacks or public school students reporting threats and attacks from weapons like guns and knives.

South Dakota had the safest schools in those components as well, with 5 percent of students reporting attacks on them and 8 percent of teachers reporting attacks. North Dakota was tied as safest school in the teacher attack category.

Mike Fitzgerald, coordinator of Nevada's Safe and Drug-Free Schools, said the state is continuing to focus on preventing school violence. His group conducted a 1998 study that identified problems with fighting and developed a plan that addressed all students, not just those inclined to resort to fisticuffs.

"Nevada schools use a wide variety of commercial, locally developed and general program models in substance abuse and violence prevention," Fitzgerald told the panel.

"They are designed to reach the entire population of students in a school rather than being targeted to at-risk students or students already engaged in risky behavior."

Mary Peterson, Nevada superintendent of public Instruction, credited the Safe Harbors safety symposium, which brings together educators, parents, lawmakers and other community leaders, as playing a role in the reduction of violence.

She said the symposium provides "a common ground for discussion and direction on school-based violence and drug abuse prevention programs."

The panel's findings in the violence category was that victimization and fights were less common in states with a strong sense of community and in school districts that dealt with disruptive behavior and took steps to prevent it.

The panel also found that efforts to convene community members in events such as Safe Harbors "may be useful in raising public consciousness" about the problems of drug use and violence prevention.