Fighting in the Classroom: A detailed analysis of the number of fights in Houston schools.

HOUSTON. Parents told KHOU 11 News they are worried about fights breaking out in their children’s schools. So we took a closer look at the problem and found that there were more fights in the last school year than five years before.

KHOU 11 Investigates analyzed data from the Texas Education Agency to find out how often fights occur in schools in Greater Houston school districts. We learned that over 13,600 fights were reported in the last school year. We sat down with two sisters to talk about a disturbing trend.

Azariah Alanis, a sixth grader, has experienced some horrific experiences at school.

“There were fights at my school that were very serious and teachers were involved. It becomes really physical,” Azaria said.

Azaria said that some fights interrupt classes.

“There were fights in our classroom and students had to be locked up because they were knocking on doors,” Azaria said.

Her sister Xiani, a high school student, said that fights happen at her school too.

“I heard, you know, when I got to the sixth period, there was a fight during lunch,” Siani said.

Both sisters said they did not feel safe at school.

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“I would say that in recent years, probably not,” Siani said.

“I was frightened. I was at lunch – it was the first time I saw this happen. It was right next to my table and I was like, “Oh my God, what’s going to happen?” They are going to approach me,” Azaria said.

According to the girls, fights are often advertised on social networks.

“Many of them are on TikTok or Instagram,” Azaria said.

KHOU conducted a survey about school safety. Most of the 428 parents who took part said that fighting was a major concern and that it was fueled by social media.

Here some of their answers:

• “People are filming them.”
• “…children record and post on social networks.”
• “Social media is a big problem.”

“I think it plays a big role because the students would say that this student published it. It was something about another student at school. My school received numerous threats that someone would harm us at school, and other students would write about it,” Azaria said.

“Social media continues to grow, and it’s getting easier and easier,” Siani said.

Dr. Laurel Williams, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, said that in order to understand why kids interact on social media, you have to think like you’re one of them.

“It’s so important to them to be seen and heard, and social media makes it a one click process,” Williams said.

She said that peer pressure and the desire to fit in makes social media irresistible.

“They emulate the people they look up to in the world – the social media influencers and this idea that I need to go viral to be relevant,” Williams said.

While restricting or banning social media might seem like a good way for parents to deal with the situation, Williams said it won’t change a child’s behavior.

“The problem with taking things away from teenagers and children is that they will just go underground. They will get someone else’s phone, create an account, enter a completely different name. They may lie about their age. So it’s not really a strategy,” Williams said.

Williams said that what you say to your child when he shows you a video of fights at school can help change his behavior.

“That’s where parents come in to sort of help them start a conversation and help them understand, because what you really want to do is develop this culture of the bystander that doesn’t let that happen. You can sit and say, my God, it looks terrible. What’s going on here? This looks pretty bad. What if it was you? How would you deal with it?” Williams said.

Azaria said these conversations take place at her school, where she acts as a peer mediator. She said giving children the opportunity to talk helps.

“I think they are starting to realize that they can solve this problem on their own and not get into a big fight over it,” Azaria said.

What happens to students who fight at school?

In Texas, schools cannot expel students for fighting. There are three options: detention, suspension, or an alternative school. KHOU reviewed disciplinary action taken by Houston school districts.