MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A rash of violence amongst high school students in Memphis was leading many to question what could be done to stop it.
After a fight Tuesday at White Station High School, some students were expelled and some suspended.
But what about when they return to class?
One mother told WREG schools should require kids who act out violently to see guidance counselors as well.
“Counseling in the schools is a great idea, from early on. A lot of kids have ADHD. A lot of kids have learning disabilities and aren’t diagnosed,” she said.
Superintendent Dorsey Hopson acknowledged the school system needed to find ways to help kids with anger issues, but did not give specifics on how to do so.
“There’s obviously a lot of anger out there, a lot of violence, and we need to get to the bottom of it,” he said.
School Board member Chris Caldwell’s daughter went to White Station.
He said the board was doing what it could to help prevent violence and planned on making improvements next year.
“One of the things that we did pass in our new budget was money for more counselors, more guidance counselors and more behavioral specialists,” he said.
But he also pointed out budgetary restrictions were not making their job of protecting students any easier.
“These are some of the results of us not being funded to the level that we should be. We’re 45th of 47 in the country. The legislature needs to step up, the county needs to step up and the city needs to step up, because this is not just a school issue. Its a societal issue,” he said.
Caldwell said SCS hoped to add 15 new guidance counselors and 15 new behavioral specialists next year.
