Students beating up teachers and attacking an Examiner photographer have prompted a Baltimore City councilwoman to propose that Baltimore City students undergo mandatory conflict-resolution training.
“I?m so upset over the way our children are getting along with one another, with the teachers, and people just talking about it,” said Councilwoman Agnes Welch, D-District 9.
Students in grades three through 12 would be required to complete conflict-resolution courses.
“Recent events point to the need of far too many students for a more intensive approach to understanding and achieving respect for self and others,” the proposal reads.
A female student?s attack this month on Jolita Berry, an art teacher at Reginald F. Lewis High School, captured national attention when someone posted footage of the beating online.
While taking photos Thursday for The Examiner near Lewis High for stories about school violence, photographer Arianne Starnes said a male student tried to grab her cameras, pushed her and pretended to shoot her in the head.
Berry praised Welch for taking action but questioned how many students would take it seriously.
“Any little bit helps,” she said. “It can be quite helpful, but you have to have students and adults who are willing to do this. At least she?s coming up with something.”
City schools chief Andres Alonso and other system leaders are considering whether to expand conflict-resolution programs to all students and staff starting next school year, Alonso said.
More than 100 schools already have community conferencing, in which the student must admit to wrongdoing and all involved must agree to go through the conferencing process instead of sending the case to court.
Aubrey Collins is a sophomore at Digital Harbor High School who admits things can get rowdy at times.
“If kids learn or teens my age learn how to express themselves rather than throwing their fists or arguing and cussing each other, I think we?ll be fine,” she said.
WJZ contributed to this story.
