Parents concerned about rise of violence inside metro Atlanta schools

ATLANTA — Many parents across metro Atlanta are having difficult conversations with their children after a string of violence in local schools.

Just this week, there have been two serious fights inside DeKalb County schools.

In one of those fights Wednesday, students were pepper sprayed.

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Parents rushed to the school when they heard about a large police presence, but are now asking why this rise is happening in the first place.

“I don’t know what’s going on. I really don’t know what’s going on,” parent Deanna Kearney told Channel 2′s Matt Johnson.

Kearney went to Towers High School on Wednesday to make sure her daughter was alright after hearing about a large brawl in the cafeteria.

Her daughter texted her to let her know that she was ok, but the sight of police officers at the school left Kearney disappointed because of another act of violence inside schools.

“It seems like it’s not getting any better,” she said.

During the fight posted to social media, a school resource officer was forced to use pepper spray to try and control the fight.

Channel 2 Action News crews saw an ambulance take one student to the hospital. District spokespeople say the student had minor injuries.

“The ones that want to fight, maybe they need to stay at home,” Kearney said.

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Parents in south Fulton County are still grappling with a stabbing that injured two students last week at Banneker High School. District officials told parents the stabbing started because of a “neighborhood dispute.”

That situation ended with a town hall meeting with parents and the superintendent asking the school board to hire ten more campus security staff.

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“Children need to be taught skills, not just punished for behavior,” said Atlanta psychologist Dr. Rosalyn Pitts Clark.

Dr. Clark says she has been concerned about the increase in violence and threats at schools since the start of the pandemic. She says social media plays a huge role in drawing out the violence.

“Fights are posted on social media, as well as issues that may spill over from the community, or bullying that may have taken place, continues to get perpetuated over in social media, and it spills over into the schools,” she explained.

Dr. Clark says whether it’s a brawl, a stabbing, or bullying, schools can help parents with constant communication.

“You try and reassure parents and students that they are safe,” she said.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Banneker High School to install 10 new security officers after stabbing Parents said there’s clearly a problem that starts outside of the high school’s doors: Gangs.

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