YUTAPONG KAMNOTNAE (Bangkok Post) wrote:Udon Thani _ Schools and parents have formed a network against violence in schools in a bid to curb increasing quarrels among students. Their scuffles can develop into serious conflicts involving rapes and gang fighting, the group said.
The group's initiative was announced during a seminar at Udon Thani Rajabhat University.
The seminar was supported by the Thai Health Foundation.
More than 200 students attended the forum to share their views about school brawls.
A student said pupils could get into a fight just by staring at each other the wrong way, passing insults or snatching girlfriends or boyfriends from classmates.
Teachers had tried to deal with the quarrels to little avail.
Teachers tried to avoid harsh punishment, which could lead to further violence.
Schools and parents could not ignore the problem, which could result in tragedy, said Somsak Tritipsatit, an associate judge for children and youth in Udon Thani province.
He was worried that jealousy or anger between students could result in them raping or attacking each other.
Students in Mathayom 1 and 2 ( grades 7 and 8 ) are a risk group because they have just entered the juvenile period and often followed the example of their friends rather than parents or teachers, according to Mr Somsak.
A recent case of violence at a school in Ubon Ratchathani where female students fought each other shocked adults.
''The girls fought as their friends cheered and recorded their scuffle on a mobile phone camera,'' said one witness of the event.
New group aims to curb student quarrels
New group aims to curb student quarrels
New group aims to curb student quarrels