A south Fulton County high school has changed its cellphone policy for students following almost a dozen fights in one week, officials said.
Langston Hughes High students will now be punished for posting and sharing videos of fights on social media after 11 fights took place last week, the Fulton County School System told AJC.com.
“Last week, the principal of Langston Hughes High School made the district aware of a small number of students involved in highly visible and circulated fights,” the school system said in a news release. “Behaviors such as these cause disruptions within the learning environment, and in no way reflects the school’s expectations of student conduct.”
The school system said it has identified everyone involved and has disciplined them according to the code of conduct. In addition, more school resource officers have been added, and the school system has employed "conflict resolution mediation" to attempt to "deescalate interpersonal tensions."
“... There (were) a few students utilizing videos of these events to glamorize violence — we have been clear that both will not be tolerated,” the release said.
Nytetia Clay told Channel 2 Action News that her daughter, who is a sophomore, was jumped by three girls outside of her classroom last week. She hopes those students are prevented from returning to class.
“If the school took action prior to this happening, the young ladies would not still be there, and we wouldn’t be in this position,” Clay said. “We send our kids to school hoping that they’re safe and they’re in the protection of the school.”
The punishment for posting and sharing videos of fights on social media works in a three-tier system, Principal Charles Chester said in a letter to parents.
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Those who record video of a fight will receive up to 10 days of suspension, while students who share or forward those videos will receive three additional days of suspension, the letter said.
The strictest punishment is for students who post the video to social media. They will receive 10 days of suspension and a referral for a tribunal hearing with a recommendation for a long-term suspension, the letter said. That longer suspension could last the remainder of the school year.
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