School violence in Universities and high schools have grown in the past year. Fist fights, knives, guns, and bomb threats have tripled over the last year and Albert Lea High School is no exception. Just these first few months of school we have seen fights break out during school. Though they were not major, our neighbors at Austin High School had a violent fight break out in early October.

On pajama day during homecoming week, a fight broke out right outside the school door of Austin High School. The 12 people that were involved in the fight consisted of students from the school and 2 men in their 20’s. One of the men was carrying nunchucks, a martial arts weapon with two small handles connected by a chain. Since there are not many entrances to the building, it took 3 minutes for any teachers or police officers to intervene on the fight. A student was knocked unconscious.

Since the eighth graders switch from the middle school to the high school, fights and violence in the school has been minimal, but not non existent. Most students never hear or even see any violence in the school. Most ALHS students may have never thought about fights or extreme violence happening at the school, but the incident in Austin did open students eyes to the possibility.

“I totally think something like that (the fight at Austin High School) could happen at our school.” says Junior Andrew Field.” As a student I see a lot of stuff that happens at the school that teachers don’t, and based on just what I’ve seen and what I’ve heard others have seen, I think someone would go to great lengths to keep them secret.”

Not being a violent person, Field can’t understand what causes people to want to fight or create a violent environment at school. Although he feels safe in school, Field shares ideas on what ALHS can do to make sure things like shootings or fights will not occur at ALHS.

“Maybe raise school security, or have less rules so some kids aren’t driven to do something like that.”

Senior Forrest Seuser also feels safe at school, but believes there should be pre-preventative action taken by the school to insure the violence would not occur in the first place.

“The violence is because there is unsolved drama or anger between a group of people or individuals, and those people do not seek out to someone, their friends, or a counselor for help. So they resort to violence which spreads into major fights,” Seuser explains.”Depression, grades, college, bullying, and of course drama with their friends. Some have no one to talk to. I think the counselors should reach out to those kids and help them out. This will most likely ensure that domestic violence will be prevented within the walls of our school.”

Like the school shootings, extreme fights, and threats that happen in other towns, ALHS is not invincible to the violence that can stem from multiple things. The school has taken the best possible measures to keep the students and staff at ALHS safe. Although measures taken are not foolproof, the students and staff have been taught to deal with these situations by the school. The drills and lessons on proper conduct are done to keep all students and staff safe. ALHS strives to give their students a safe and positive atmosphere, but students are a huge part in making that ideal environment a reality.