Fight at basketball game demands a forceful response

Fight at basketball game
demands a forceful response

A fight last Friday during the final minutes of the East-Chaney basketball game was nothing like the stand-clearing brawls that were captured on videotape in recent years at other sporting events in other places, but it was enough to get school board members and administrators talking about what needs to be done to avert future incidents.

A combination of luck, the presence of a strong contingent of parents who kept their heads and maintained control and a quick response by police managed to keep things under control. Wisely, authorities on hand called the game, which by that point had become a lopsided contest with no doubt about which team would get the win and which the loss.

School Board Vice President Lock P. Beachum Sr., who has experience as a high school principal in the city schools, has suggested that it may be necessary to eliminate nighttime athletic events from the school calendar.

That has been proposed and done in the past from time to time over a period of 50 years when violence intruded on high school athletic events. And it may become necessary again.

But clearly, administrators, including the superintendent, Dr. Wendy Webb, are looking first to alternatives.

Bigger picture

Eliminating night games certainly reduces the possibility of violence at a given event, but unless it is part of a broader program aimed at changing the way students behave, it is just a Band-Aid.

Dr. Webb said the district is studying anger management instruction aimed at eighth grade students. Before they ever get to high school, the students would learn how to diffuse a disagreement before it results in violence. Students would also sign a contract that would make clear what every student should already know, that misbehavior has consequences.

Students who are disruptive at one extracurricular event would know in advance that they would lose the privilege of participating in all other extracurricular events. Engaging in a fight at a football game would mean the student would not be able to attend or participate in other extracurricular activities, from running track to dancing at the prom.

The first goal, of course, should be to teach students how to behave in school and after school, which prepares them for the demands they will face in later life. Denying all students, parents and alumni the ability to attend an evening sporting event punishes everyone, including the athletes. Nonetheless, it may become necessary.

Unless the district is able to effectively discourage misbehavior, it runs the risk of liability if a fight between two students were to escalate and innocent bystanders were injured.

The district must now demonstrate that it is willing and able to address discipline problems at extracurricular events. No school district can guarantee complete safety every time there is a gathering, but any school district must be able to show that it is taking every prudent action to reduce the possibility of an altercation that puts people at risk.