Japanese School Violence

well,so the manga and the anime about school student is real right >_<

Not so much violence in general but I find ijime to be something very interesting to read into. I've read a 24 page (0.0 how did I even pay that much attention) on bullying in Japan, such as what forms it takes. Then it talks about strategies other countries have devised to minimize these threats.
As for schools, i'm almost in my final year of high school and i've noticed that the violence usually occurs in the middle grades of high school. I think this is because well, the older people just don't care about meaningless stuff, already developed a strong bond, have better things to care about. I'd agree with the JME statement of communication is key, within our school it's probably the student council which really gets involved with the school. Of course I know systems work differently in Japan though, their social structures atleast.
Although this is only in my perspective and I haven't really endeavoured to find out how other schools are like, never mingled with them.

Fortunately, I live in a relatively peaceful neighborhood but it does seem like crime is on the rise. Recently, we've had several batches of new Macs stolen from the district's schools (they didn't take the PC's ^^;) and light to mild - but clearly visible - vandalism occurring in multiple public areas.

This is what I am afraid of . I'm planing to become an exchange student in Japan but then I heard a lot of Bullies and violence happening in Japan .

So I'm still making a decision on schooling in Japan or just study here in Malaysia .

Interesting CM.
Hmm at my school there's those usual few fights (this one guy in one of my classes came to school with blood practically gushing down his face ^_^;, and I believe that's the most that I've seen). But I don't think it is that rampant. As in, I can't see teachers getting hurt...

The people in my country most of the time blames the influence of media for being the main cause that leads to violence.

Its a pity to hear that 1 out of 4 cases of violence ends up with the victim being hospitalized.

i have had to go to 6 different schools from kindergarten till 12th grade high school with me at least i saw bullying from 6th grade up, till 11th grade, and some extreme fights during middle school, mostly between girls, one fight was raciest white girl Indian girl they both hated each other, go to the point were 8 teachers got in the fight trying to separate them and they would not give up it lasted over 2 hours. other then that there was no fights except for one of my friends got in a fight with the principle a fist fight in 9th grade and he was expelled, i don't remember what the fight was about though.

Well there were only a few fights I've ever witnessed...but during middle and high school years, there were security officers on patrol around the school...I think the schools might be more cautious in the past years...

nothing is better than communication through the fists.thats how i was raised through my school days.it was fun but got pretty annoying after a while

Just a few weeks ago, someone told my friend to fight him, because he thought my friend was laughing at that guy's friend. >_> People just looking for fights are idiots.

P.S. I liked the commercial. =D

Communication isn't a problem in Brazil (I guess) but there's still too many bad parenting cases and problems with violence, vandalism and bullying way worse than Japan.
I think it's a problem with modern times really... though that may sound like what someone older would say.
Problems like those are related to stuff we have deeply rooted in several societies.
It has to do with rampant capitalism... people value material things too much and tend to overlook the stuff that is most important in life.
People have lost sense of how important relationships and being part of a community is, and valorize too much their own individualities.
And it's something understandable when employees that work 10+ hours a day are valued and even admired.
I don't think this is happening in my generation or even in generations after mine, but the solution to most modern problems is reducing working hours, spending more time with family, working on social bonds and life, thus enabling people to see how important it is to respect others.

But that's a long discussion...

=/ increase of bullying, well one has to worry if it scales to bullying of teachers, or if it goes the other way (like here where the principal of a school beat till breaking one schoolboy's arm for hiding the math teachers notebook) I think there are many causes (cellphones? SMS? stressed parents after a hard day of work, global financial crisis, etc) so until we start fighting those causes there won't be a real solution against these problem.
I was thinking, certainly bullying in school was always present, and one had to survive it (Danny-san described his childhood too) to be able to survive in these otona(adult) world where there are other bullies. The struggle that can't kill you, makes you stronger (excuse my bad translation).
Finally, Danny-san certainly living with foster parents has been difficult for you but also I think by that experience you're the being you're now. That build this blog, organize amazing events and has so many followers. The man that decided to build his future. So... what's on your mind Danny-san? with what event, notice, cool idea are you going to surprise us with? ;)

yea, I have my mom to dive me insight on common decency... I remember this one time I let an old lady sit on the train, she left, I sat down again, and she came back b/c it was the wrong station, and I again gave her the seat. She gave me a phone card for it, and I actually still have that phone card (=P -don't use it...)

in regards to bullying, I tried to avoid conflict as much as I can, knowing that I was a rather angry (and still am to an extent) person. But recently, people have been posting school fights on youtube and such, and quite honestly, these people are rather stupid...
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母に良く礼儀に関して教えてくれました。そういえば、昔あったな〜、そのテレビのCM見てると。日本で電車乗ってるときに、知らないおばさんに席を譲って、駅に着いてそのおばちゃんがおりたから座ろうとしたら、「駅間違えた」と戻ってきて、また席を譲ったら、めっちゃほめられたわ。。。そんでもってそのおばさんからテレカ貰ったけど、正直使ってないからまだ持っているんですよ〜

僕の高校時代は、あんまりいじめにはあわなかったな〜。ていうか逃げてたし。。。当時（今でもですけどね）僕はすごく自分の人生に不満だったから、結構いかれてた。。。　最近YouTubeでいじめの動画見るけど、「アホやな、こいつら。」と思う今です。

I've always had good relationship with my parents, I was bullied at school, so I don't miss that part of my life, being a little boy, Danny I didn't know that you were raised in a foster home, I think it's the first time you mention it, I guess it was hard.

:/ I think that's true, actually that's the same with my own parents too. And how I've seen others. But I was raised in the US.

It was more-so being being locked up at home as a child, and well lack of communication just makes me feel nothing like parental feelings from my parents. The more they yell though at least shows something though, which is sort of better then nothing. I guess?

huh foster parents ?? on what age did you get ride of that ??

bulling and violence on mine school experience is for me a bad memory because i have done nothing to them and i still get bulled :( i am questing why me ?? Because i am weak or i never fight back or is it for them to communicating with me ?? Did they not get enough of love from there own parents is that the reason ??

Seems like its increasing everywhere noticed last few years that graffiti has increased alot as well as gang violence and that's just within the small city areas that I am around

There has been some fights recently at my school, but it's been calm for a while now. But I bet there's more fights around that I'm just not hearing about due to not really caring about what's happening at my school.

Over here school fights occur often but theres usually an event that instigates everything, but yes even the smallest things cause brawls.

people that I've gone to school with are in jail now because they actually killed someone during a fight. there has been a noticeable increase in the severity of fighting in my neck of the woods. it's really a frustrating thing to deal with. the worst that has happened to me is just being bullied a bit. nothing too severe - but still something which really bugs me.

Most of them are just students who try to act tough cause they beat up those who can't fight back. I just wish they could get some disciplinarians in schools who can monitor thoroughly and maybe give bullies a beating >:)

Gangs and stuffs in school? sheesh another group trying to be tough and make them feel like a gang or mafia but in reality their just cheap imitations of real life gangs.

I'm a substitute teacher in my district, and I've had to break up a few fights since I started but none were too serious (and I'm SO glad, as I'm 22 and a lot of those guys are bigger than me). Middle school boys seem to be at an age where that sort of thing happens on occasion. But there have been no reports of serious injury this year, and most were small, spur of the moment brawls or shoves instead of grudges.

Other than that, I've noticed how horrible gossiping and talking trash is among preteens. They feed on it like candy, and all I can do is urge them to show courtesy and respect to others and hope their parents or guardians teach them the same.

It depends on alot of things, I know the social structure is different and reactions are different. But over here in my city I see violence on the news, being usually Canada's #1 homicide capital.

The CM totally touched me! Singapore's campaign commercials won't look as heartwarming as this.

i was bullied in elementary school in germany for being a foreigner it eventually escalated into a fight and the kids coming and vandalizing my house. Eventually the kids had to apologize to me in front of the whole school and it ended after that.

i only know that girls and boys don't mix together when we are in elementary school. ^^;

I'm currently in my final year in school here and looking back i was bullied at primary school because i was a fan of Pokemon. I was bullied in high school due people thinking that they were superior in strength and fights were a common issue weekly at my school. Bullying is still a heavy issue in most schools. They think that the law can protect them and cause as much damage as they want because they can't go to jail.

I was too coward to commit any vandalism act in elementary, secondary and university. Well fight is seldom happen in my school as everyone is coward too~~lol~~There are certain students were expelled from school bcoz of group fight

I remember that in 7th grade one of my friends had a fight. It lasted a few seconds(like 10). He had a headbutt in his left eye. End of the fight. Other than that I haven't witnessed another fight, we were a peaceful youth.

I've always hated fights. The cool thing is that only one time I had to fight back(elementary school), but other than that, I've been a good comrade, classmate, etc. all my life.
Everybody ends accepting me and they don't try to harm me, they even try to protect me ^^;

I end up being the guy that almost everybody likes. So no fights for me.

I heard that a lot of parents excuse for their children being bullies is kids will be kids or its just a phase.

Well really... When i grew up I was beaten daily. It was the norm. So many bullies. Felt like half my school was bullies and the rest were horribly bullied. I actually walked home most of time time, despide how long it was because then maybe I wouldn't get beaten or ridiculed in some way. Sadly they say it's even worse these days. When you see 12 yr old's in the newspaper having "attempted rape" it really makes me worry for the future.

A lot of the time I would say the fault lies mainly with the parents. They are simply too lenient or just don't care at all. Heck, one of my worst bullies was the child of my teacher! Tried to contact a teacher and I became the villain instead.

The thing is, it went on and on. Noone did anything. The teachers were too cowardly to do anything. Personally I would wish for some stricter discipline and some serious punishments for these kinds of things and teachers that will not be overpowered! Gimme some hunky teachers! Maybe that's just me though.

Danny, the situation in schools here in Brazil, both public and private, are so alarming that I wouldn't know where to start.

fight fire with fire, i say.

Violence in schools have been an issue here for some years. Never been in a fight, though I've had to kick some fat arses, and then run. Oh, and the who-looks-away-first-is-a-pussy contest, with your wallet as the prize.
Probably the biggest problem is not kids brawling amongst themmselves, but parents who does the same when someone tries to teach their beloved pups the correct way. Some cases became very famous, with fathers literally beating the crap out of innocent, hard-working fellow teachers.
A child will always follow his parents example, or as we say in spanish "De tal palo, tal astilla". Sometimes I really don't know who really needs to be educated...

I could never understand this.
I love my parents ^^

i used to be bullied and treased since junior school ( primary school as we call it down here in au)

but now being 25, beefed but so docile, but i wouldnt stoop as low to bullying at work. however karma has come towards those who have bullied me so im satisfied with that

Some of the kids I teach can be pretty bad. But there hasn't been anything to the point of getting fights involved with a teacher. But they do tend to snap rather easily one minute, and the next, act like it never happened and continue learning. However, my bad kids look like angels compared to the stories I hear from others. (These are Japanese students I'm talking about.)

It's strange really. I can sympathize with the commercial though. I do see times when an Obaa-san is standing on a train and the (usually ruffy-looking) teenager is continuing to sit.

I go to a good school but recently they changed the school zones so we have a large number of kids from the rival highschool and kids have been vandalizing more.Surprisingly,their has been less fights so far but I wish they would keep our school nice.

Over here the age bracket is getting younger and younger where violence and anger is concerned. I was walking in the town centre and I see kids as young as 12 or 13 shouting at each other swearing, pretty loudly.
In my opinion it's mostly the parents fault, the parents are there to guide their children. If they aren't guiding them then the children will do what makes them feel good and for some reason what makes them feel good is being violent.
I never got into fights, no-one picked on me and I didn't pick on anyone. I just don't see the point in being so violent.

I'm sorry to hear about your foster family experiences. I was raised by abusive parents and being constantly around violence and anger made me appreciate peace and the need for communication. I get the sense from this blog that you learned similar lessons from your unfortunate past.

I'm really sad when I read this news and unfortunately these problem exists in all the world... :( I wish this world it understand what means to love...

I believe that it is possible to reduce bullying cultures. But always inevitable. In my experiences there is always some trait or combination of traits that a lot of victims have in common, not in a stereotypical way like you would think. I can't put my finger on it either. They can be great guys with normal behaviour and interests but for some reason they stick out in a way you can't explain. Which makes them targets for being picked on. Not all victims, some just are very different or just can't afford "cool" clothes etc. And while you could also make generalisations about bullies, i believe that bullies are diverse as almost anyone can be a bully as it is easy to do. That's what i think anyway.

My school was awful. A lot of bullying was the norm there, with a lot of it being quite serious physical harm (I got it everyday...) Not to mention that a lot of people from a young age didn't do anything but steal, drink, smoke and do drugs. It was a common thing.
The teachers weren't much better either. Some would completely flip out about nothing, one had many underage "relationships" with students and another threw a student down some stairs...
Nice place ^^;;

Society is turn more and more feral every year.

I believe it stems from this technology boom and people's disengagement from reality.
In the past it was acohol, then drugs in the 60's and now its technology in the 90's.
Mix that lot together!

Everyone is bombarded daily with mental over load from all the things we do it stimulate ourselves out of boredom.
Classic is the iPod user, put it on, and the world around you disappears. As they slip into a solitude.
Go home and kids (adults too) immerse themselves in alter-reality games.
It’s just going to get worse, as our base line perception of what reality is, changes and becomes more "virtual" and this all effects the way people interact with each other.

bullied alot of kids in school and called them gay. teachers were always on our case. but most of the guys we called gay eventually came out of the closet (which is fine, i guess) many years later so the teachers were wrong.

Back in my high school days, I started living alone independently which many people expect that I will learn bad things from the outside without the care or guidance of my parents to lead me to the right path but surprisely I didn't go for the wrong path and instead knowing that what is wrong and right in the first place that I didn't disappointed them as they give me a chance to experience about life outside alone from the start.

Without going into a major rant (and I'd like to...) Western cultural influences play a role. What a shame to see.

I think I see a girl with Ogiue's hairstyle in that photo...

Funny, I remember my late dad mentioned this violence when we visited Japan in 1985, it seems some things never change...

Not much of it being reported here...but can't say its completely all right here....

Oh yeah, I think student life in Jakarta is somewhat more violent, because we have a thing called 'tawuran' here, which basically means war between schools. A bunch of students from one school would ambush a group from another, and things would escalate until violence breaks in public places, like on a bus, on a parking lot or even in the middle of the street... many students have died, and sometimes innocent people get hurt too. There are times when these happen daily. Well, nothing to brag about.

in my school middle school days there were some fights and bullied kids, but never something really really serious to sending someone to the hospital, unfortunately most of the fights after school involved girls quarreling about some boyfriend

There's a playground close by where my old folks live and it's startling how children have changed these past years. Sure you expect them to be lively, loud and fool around even doing some mischief, but these kids ranging ages 8-16 are unbelievable, they sound like a group of retards or psychopaths screaming bloody murder at ea

Lucky for me, fights were very rare occurrences. There was a program going on when I was in elementary; called "D.A.R.E." (I don't remember what it stood for), but part of it was aimed at stopping violence in schools.

In my area it really came down to who you were and whether the violence affected you or not. I was one of the victims at the beginning but after fight my share of fights in middle school it slacked off a bit. We rarely ever lashed out at teachers though. When we did however, it was merely verbal as we were told very directly that if we did it was a criminal offense and we would be tried for it. Most of the time though we were controlled enough to not lash out on anyone merely talk it out with friends. the class or two bellow my graduating class however, broke my STATES record for most fights in a year.

I remember being in school and seeing fights a lot ^_^ Usually, the fight involved two girls fighting over a guy or two guys fighting over a girl. I only got bullied in middle school but after I started getting taller, I didn't have much problems with people. I remember seeing two guys go at it and the police having to use a tazer on one of the two guys O_o That occurred in my middle school days. This report is starting to remind me of that film, Battle Royale ^_^

I was never bullied during my school days and in general I have never heard of cases of bullying in my country.It might happen sometimes but that would be the exception not the norm.

When I was watching American movies in the past where the kids are bullied etc I thought it was not corresponding to reality but looks like bullying is a common problem in other countries T^T

Bullying is not an issue at my high school. However, many students are heavy smokers, some are even on marijuana, and some may be even on other drugs I guess.

When I was in elementary school, there were cases of bully and violence. I was one of the targets, but there were others who had it much worse.

I was bullied too in school. It's not all the parents' and teachers' fault that some kids are like that. It's that child's fault that they refuse to do right and do what's wrong that makes them feel whatever they are now. As bullies grow old, whenever they look back at the days they were high and mighty towards others, they feel good about themselves resulting those who were bullied to feel the opposite like I am now.

When I was in Kindergarten in Australia I had a problem with the teachers hating me since I was an American, and I was just a little kid...
Later when I entered Elementary school there was one girl who really had it in for me, I'm sure if she hadn't moved away there would have been bruises or worse.
Once I moved back to America I didn't see any bullying actually. Kids formed a "fight club" and taped it, it was all over the news when the school found out, but that was really the only thing that I saw.

Increased violence.. It must be the parents fault.. it must be the governments fault.. It can't be that kids are just kids and prolly A**holes. It could never be the childs fault. Don't give me that bullcrap! Honestly, Kids are violent.. Part of their nature.. We have to push against boundaries to grow.. is part of our nature. The Parents may have done all the communicating in the world.. but if their little bastard didn't wanna listen.. Well Guess what he didn't hear!

Sometimes.. I say and mean.. BLAME the Kid!

School violence in Japan seem to be a lot less commonplace then a school in America. Then again, factors like the school's administration and school police could deter any thought of violence on campus.

This seems to be a societal issue. The amount of formality necessary to talk to people probably impedes any heartfelt conversations. That and socially obligated roles for people in a sort of caste system.

I blame the kids, as "innocent" as they are they try to imitate what they see around them, on TV, hear on the news, movies, games... And often times the parents do nothing, which the kids might take as their actions are right.

I come from the days when a good whack across the backside did wonders to set me straight when I was causing trouble. And I like to avoid trouble at all costs, I'm not sure if I could fight to defend myself...

Well I live in the states, and have one class at the local High school(rest of my classes are online), and I have noticed an increase in violence here as-well. Also it seems as if teachers don't even care here anymore, like the other day I saw some kids acting like they were going to fight, and no-one did a single thing! Also kids are way more irritable I guess I would call it, because I saw one kid say to another "Hey,(name)!" and the other kid replied with "Are we friends?! Why do you think you can talk to me?!"

The last part of that video somewhat ticked me off, seriously...
My school's one of the...I guess peaceful ones, not much of those "wannabe-gangsters"
I mean, if you are one, whatever, natural or artificial selection will pick you off soon
but if you're the wannabe kind, really, get out of my face.
I guess lots of North American "gang" kids start out like this, watching some rap videos and have other friends being like that - But to me, that's just so fake and full of shit. It's like a "norm" to them now.
Maybe we just don't have someone or an organization that can just root out this kid-gangster thing.

Done with my ranting today

look at those kids in the picture showing off their gang colors... tsk tsk

In a way it is the parents fault for not bringing up their child right. Prevention example: BEAT YOUR KIDS! I get beat every time I do something wrong/bad/stupid when I was young and I still grew up to be a okay guy. Why okay instead of great? Because I have ecchi thoughts here n there.

The major fault lies with the kids, how they chose to live out their lives and become who they are with their choices. That is to say if they join gangs or hang out with delinquents, it is their fault for choosing those friends and thinking those type of people are their families and love them more than their own parents. Its not the parent who doesn't love them it is the childrens who doesn't love their parents. Did you know there's love in beating your kids too? Thats what my parents told me and I agree, why they beat me was to make me a better man and to tell me to NEVER do bad stuff again.

I used to hang out with the wrong type of people but as how my father raised me I was forbid to hang out with friends after school n such so I was only with them during school hours. Remembering one friend told me that I should tell my parents "This is my life, I can do with it whatever I want!" My answer was "And who gave you that life?" Truly without your parents you cant say "Its my life!" because your parents gave you that "life." Of course they shouldn't choose your future for you but you should try to become someone they can happily talk about to others.

For the reason why parents don't praise their kids, this is what I have to say: If you want to be praise become someone worthy of praise. Really, who praises someone unworthy of praise.

Their are exceptions to the parenting cases too such as the "real not good parents." The kids with those parents are the ones we should feel for not kids who do bad stuff because they want to impress their friends.

Seriously the students in those 1 out of 4 cases must know the consequences before they got hospitalized.

Wow 70% increase and i thought my high school in the philippines was violent enough when the dude beside me brought a gun to school and was gonna attempt a school shooting thank god nothing happened and there was fights almost everyday over a girl (it was an all boys school co-ed was introduced in my freshman year heh). But my high school experience in Hawaii was pretty mellow though probably cuz they are more concerned with surfing and just hanging out more than anything else hehe anyways I totally agree with you guys about communication and that whole parent thing but we just cant put it all on the parents i mean from experience schools in asia are totally differnent than those in the west they more like factories rather than schools where students can enjoy and learn at the same time in asia its like academics, insane amount of homework, average of 5 tests a day in hawaii thats like over the edge if there a 2 test in a day society also has a hand in this for pushing the kids over the limit and all that stress has gotta come out one way or the other and usually it leads to violence

Violence among kids is becoming worse and worse here in the UK. Children as young as 12 are in gangs beating up kids from other neighbourhoods to express their "dominance and status". It's absolutely terrible. Half of these kids have no real role models and abusive parents so they try to bring everyone else down too, but that hardly gives them the right to completely go against society and law. The stuff they get away with is outrageous and it's not uncommon to hear about teenagers being stabbed to death by other young people at least once a day in London. It's quite scary being a 14 year old over here at the moment.

Never saw any fight when i was school but then i reckon thats more of a city school kinda thing.

the article is in japanese so I don't know what is the exact number of incidents/student population. an increase of 70% does sound like a lot but what are the exact numbers and how are they accounting for reporting and what constitutes as 'vandalism' or 'violence'? in most new york city public schools 99.999% of student desks are drawn on or scratched but it's never reported as vandalism. students can get into minor altercations that if it's broken up easily usually goes unreported. so while this issue is important to the japanese and to what they find acceptable, I would not think that they have any more violence than many many other countries. and columbine is not an apt comparison at all (in the other comments previous). even in america, columbine happened in an area that has much fewer school incidents than the average metropolitan/urban area.

There was not really much physical violence at the elementary school and high school I went to, but there was more verbal violence and verbal abuse. Some kids can be really mean and cruel O_O

Haven't actually come across any problems at my school....but there is a problem between the international and local people. Local students have a thing against people who go to an international school and there have been problems of people getting ganged up on...its pretty sad sometimes...

I guess this is what humanity sacrifices for the sake of "modern living": old traditions and lifestyle (both bad and good) are disappearing x_x

You think Japans Students are bad. In my school in the Bronx they set up metal detectors due to students bringing guns and robbing others on gunpoint in the stairways. There were time where I would be walking to the train station and happen to walk between a gang fight where they would run pass me with machetes and knives. I was so use to it; now that i look back I don't know how I would just brush it off and ignore it. I would just keep walking like nothing was going on. I was so use to it but know that I reflect I don't know how I managed to see this go on with no reaction. My mentality i guess was it doesn't have anything to do with me so I have no need to worry.

The Bronx is a rough place but I heard Tokyo is relatively safe but how would I cope with the trouble makers there. I mean if I see students getting bullied or someone being hurt even if your a gangster I would step in. I am rather use to confronting these problems where I attacked for absolutely no reason but for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I read the story of the old man killed in a bus in Japan because no one would step up to defend him because it was not them. I would just not be able to witness something like this and not act.

Violence is not a way to settle things.

I usually don't like over socialize, sometimes don't like to go out when the time is not right, seems like I'm a bit similar to Kotomi from Clannad.

@Danny Choo's question...

I think there just stressed out. The pressure from everything is getting to them.
Japan has been in a recession for awhile right, like years...? This is what I read... And here you have these kids growing up, and their parents working all the time to make ends meat.. I guess I can see it happening..
I feel it...

My personal situation.. With college, and working full time, and the responsibilities placed on me and the lack of proper pay.. and can't find another better job because there don't seem to be any open. (I'm in the US by the way) I have become more tense. And the value of the dollar dropping through the floor.. So everything is costing more. So there is more sacrifice involved on my part. And the bills just keep coming. Even if I wanted to quit work, I couldn’t because I’d still have to pay property tax, so I can’t quit. It's really freaking stressful. So it may seem like something little is setting me off, but it’s really a bunch of things added up. And I would say it’s the same situation in Japan with this young upcoming generation. After all, different location, but were still dealing with humans who have the same basic needs. Food, shelter, warmth.

But anyways, when I was in high school, middle school and even kindergarten, yeah there was always a lot of fights. It seemed to escalate in late middle school, as well as high school. I was involved in more fights than I wanted to be. And it's only gotten worse from my understanding, and keeping up with the news state side.

What do I think is causing all of this turmoil? Government. I know you say, how in the heck is that causing it? Well if you go back, kids used to learn a trade from their parents.. so they were pre-occupied with a useful skill, and this took up there time, they had pride in something. Well after it was mandated in the US that kids must attend school for almost a quarter of the kids life... well here you are, a bunch of people that would never normally meet, having to meet every day for eight freaking hours a day, and really not liking each other, they don’t have the same mind set, or goals.. and for the most part, learning useless crap. That isn't constructive in any manner what so ever. That's like a recipe for disaster. And to top it all off, they don’t all learn the same way. So this puts the individual kids.. in a shitty situation.

I attended a city school. So there were preps, and there were poor people.. People who could really care less about education. Because, no matter how much they learn, its not going to make their life any better at home, or raise their economic status(financial situation) for the better..

I think fights are good, as along as they don't escalate. It’s a natural relief of pressure. You don't want the person holding it in.. and then just snapping one day and going postal. Because then it will be like a volcano. Hitting everyone, the non innocent as well as the innocent.

Of course this is just my perspective, my little grain of sand from what I have seen and experienced over my years of living.