How many fights happened at Morton East last semester?
February 13, 2020
Using the school’s new system, head dean Mr. Matt Dugan reported there were 68 fights last semester: approximately 38 sophomore fights, 21 junior fights, and 9 senior fights.
Last semester there were more than half of the amount of fights that happened last year. Security guards at Morton East High school said that there were approximately 120 last year in the building.
According to the assistant principal Ms. Joanne Rzadzki, “(it’s difficult to) get all the specific information because we have a new system where (data is) pulled differently.”
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Ian C. • Oct 6, 2022 at 9:37 am
The writers provide wonderful information in every area, however I think there should be more details on the number of bouts every year and how they change. This will enable us to determine whether battles have improved or gotten worse over time.
Ian C. • Oct 6, 2022 at 9:34 am
All the information given by the writers is excellent however I believe that there should be more information on the rate of fights per year and their fluctuation. This will allow us to see if fights have gotten worse through the years or better.
Lucia Rodriguez • Apr 6, 2022 at 2:54 pm
Less fights as the grades mature. I find that really interesting.
gabe • Mar 14, 2022 at 2:12 pm
oh dont even get me started
Reporter • Mar 25, 2021 at 1:24 pm
delgado 4
One thing I think you did well was get an estimated amount of how many fights there were by different grade levels. One thing I think you should add is more quotes of maybe people that were witnesses in the fights.
Juan Rodriguez (BELMARES) • Feb 9, 2021 at 1:12 pm
(BELMARES)
This article is very short but it really doesn’t need a message when you have the numbers right in front of you. I am glad that fights got less prominent but it still seems like a lot, even for a high school. I hope that the school settles down after a year of relaxing at home.
ashley perez • Feb 9, 2021 at 8:21 am
i think this is too many fights for one semester and for one school year. morton students should really think twice about making the wrong choice.
Gaby Noriega • Feb 18, 2020 at 2:42 pm
It be like that sometimes
Andrea G • Feb 18, 2020 at 12:28 pm
Frankfother- Not enough quotes from the deans.
There should be more information and quotes from the deans about the fights at Morton East .
Manny Delgado • Feb 18, 2020 at 10:23 am
Frankfother – Last semester there were more than half of the amount of fights that happened last year. What are you trying to say?
Daniel Ramirez • Feb 18, 2020 at 9:34 am
franfother – needs quotes on the topic instead of just giving out information
Carolina Antunez • Feb 14, 2020 at 5:16 pm
Genge
Fights happen all time, and they don’t always have specific reasons to why they happen. According to National Center for Education Statics the percentage of fights has dropped from the years 2001-2017. I hope that with the school can get better at preventing more fights from occurring in the future.
Haven • Feb 14, 2020 at 1:30 pm
“Genge” I feel like the people who fight probably did it for two things; one, it was just some dumb reason they could’ve easily avoided, and it was an actual reason but I beg to differ
Alexandra Uresti • Feb 14, 2020 at 1:27 pm
“Genge” why is it that there are more sophomore fights than juniors and seniors? I was shocked to see how many fights there were from last semesters fight and then finding out there were more last year in one semester. Fights are a big problem at schools, if you’re 18 you can go to jail or even just have a felony record that can follow you for the rest of your life.
Xaira Rodriguez • Feb 14, 2020 at 1:21 pm
“Genge” Did you know that the “high achieving schools” are the schools with the highest rates of behavioral and mental health problems compared with national norms. Which is what I think is the case with our school.
jose ocon • Feb 14, 2020 at 1:20 pm
Genge- Violence and Crime at School—Principal Reports
During the 2015–16 school year, 79 percent of public schools recorded that one or more incidents of violence, theft, or other crimes had taken place, amounting to 1.4 million crimes. This translates to a rate of 28 crimes per 1,000 students enrolled in 2015–16. and this is bad because basiclly 1/3 of the school is dangerous and hopefully the number goes down.
Genge 5th hour • Feb 14, 2020 at 1:17 pm
In 2017, about one in four high school students reported being in a physical fight in the past year. Male students are more likely to report being in a physical fight than their female peers at 30 and 17 percent.
Myrka Quintero • Feb 14, 2020 at 12:38 pm
Genge-
Throughout the years, the number of fights has decreased in the United States. In 2017, the percentage of students getting into fights decreased to a 24%, while in 1991 it was at a 47%. This semester though, has had more than half the total amount of fights from the previous year. It is also known that younger peers report higher rates of being in a physical fight compared to their older peers. This can be seen in our school since sophomores resulted in being in more fights (38), compared to juniors (21) and seniors (9).
Yahir M • Feb 14, 2020 at 12:34 pm
Genge 4th Hour- Did you know that In a recent national survey, 44 percent of male high school students compared to 27 percent of female students had been in a fight in the past year. Male high schoolers maybe getting into fights in Morton East due to proving themselves to be tough or self defence. Moreover, think in how security provides ways to decrease fights? So far it is unpleasant to see Morton East be part of so many fights through the past years. Good job at makin the article short and understandable.
Oscar Bonilla • Feb 14, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Genge-This article was short and got to the main point on how many fights have occurred. This shows that there has to be something done to fix this problem. There could have been more details such as where the fights occur the most because the school could add more security in those parts of the school.
Bethsua Guerrero • Feb 14, 2020 at 12:31 pm
What gender had the most fights?
What was the common reason a fight occurred?
What grade had the most fights?
Myrka Quintero • Feb 14, 2020 at 12:26 pm
Genge- Throughout the years, there has been a decreased number of fights across the United States. From 1991 being at a 43% then decreasing down to a 24% in 2017. So far, this first semester we’ve had more than half the total amount of fights from the previous year. It is also said that younger students report higher rates of being in a physical fight compared to their older peers. This can be demonstrated by our school since sophomores resulted in being the ones getting into the most fights, while seniors got into less fights.
Angel Morales • Feb 14, 2020 at 12:26 pm
“Genge” Overall, statistics show that fights among students from 9-12 grade is on the decline. This includes fights in and out of school. Only about 11% of youths have reportedly been in a fight. This reflects in the article where there were less fights this year compared to last year.
Jesus Ayala • Feb 14, 2020 at 12:25 pm
Genge-it’s is extraordinary that there were a total of 68 supposed school fights between sophomores. The article speaks upon the topic of student fights over the course of time. Security guards at Morton East stated that there were initially about 120 fights last year which is mind blowing. Article is great gets to the point and is short and concise.
Gisell Estrada • Feb 14, 2020 at 12:19 pm
Genge- Based on the data that was given, was there more fights with the younger students because of them still being weak minded? It turns out based off of the research I’ve done, even when it comes to someone older picking on someone younger they think its funny while the younger kid finds it mean and it tends to make them mad or sad towards that person or towards themselves. So why is it that seniors didnt fight as much? Was it because they’re trying to avoid getting suspended or expelled before they graduate? or because they tend to participate less in drama?
Fernando Guel • Feb 14, 2020 at 10:51 am
I learned that there were more than half of the fights that happened last year last semester which is bad. I learned that most of the fights that happened last semester were sophomore fights. I believe we need more on security.
Juan Reyes • Feb 14, 2020 at 10:36 am
Fights in my opinion are not necessary at all because they start off for the stupidest reasons. Such as boyfriends or because someone called someone else a bad word. It is really dumb and a sing of immaturity because you’re literally fighting for insults, which what children do. Fights according to some website start because of a disagreement or altercation that escalates quick. Some of the reasons behind those high school altercations were cheating on mate, a disagreement and stolen items. The problem is yes you might win a fight, but you may gain a suspension, or worse, an expulsion. It also goes on your record, which may affect you getting into a certain school or job. Therefore, fighting is one of the dumbest things you can do, specially in school.
Sarahi Bustamante • Feb 14, 2020 at 10:36 am
Genge- every year, each class that comes to Morton East is different. Some could be more violent than others.
Jason Israel Chirino • Feb 14, 2020 at 10:35 am
Genge: Some information I found was located in a article named “Involvement of school students in fights with weapons: prevalence and associated factors in Brazil”. For example, “Fifty seven thousand and eighty nine female students and 52,015 male students were included; the prevalence of their involvement in fights with weapons was 7.2 (95 % CI 6.9–7.5) and 13.8 (95 % CI 13.4–14.3), respectively. In the adjusted analysis the factors associated with male student involvement in fights with weapons were: being older, working, having smoked a cigarette, consumed alcoholic beverages and illicit drugs recently, insomnia, not having any close friends, skipping classes without parental supervision, having suffered aggression from a family member, reporting feeling unsafe on the way to or from school and/or at school. The same associated factors were found among female students in addition to not living with their father and/or mother and having suffered bullying. There was no association with type of school in either sex.” (Paragraph 3) This is far way worse then the fights at Morton East since students In Brazil schools actually use weapons that can harm and kill others. Its very dangerous and something that needs to be stopped immediately including that some of these students are started to become older and are in the influence of drugs and alcohol. They cannot control themselves and may regret once its done. I’m very shocked that this a struggle or problem that this school faces and at least my school its mainly hand to hand combat. Though, its still very wrong and extremely aggressive. I wish there was a possible solution but i can’t say there is because problems always come back even after the student gets suspended or has other consequences that they dealt with. Some don’t care while others just try to prove that they are someone that no one can defeat due to their supposedly might. Our school literally has had so many fights compared to last year when mainly its the sophomores, how can that even be possible? I would have expected from higher grades but our grade who knew. We barley came to this new school and are showing a very bad influence. Hopefully, our actions get better this year so we can stop causing fights.
Daniel Martinez • Feb 14, 2020 at 10:21 am
-Genge 2nd hour
Good written article
and did you know that 5% of students reported carrying a weapon on school property 1 or more days in the past 30 days
its truly great that the Morton writers are speaking of such an important topic especially with all the political powers still trying to keep guns in out country
Jazmine Medina • Feb 14, 2020 at 10:16 am
Genge-
“In 2017, about one in four high school students (24 percent) reported being in a physical fight in the past year, a continued decrease from the 1991 high of 43 percent.” What may have caused the sudden decrease of fights during 2017? Have the security of Morton East considered better watching their surroundings when there are less fights?
Chris Polendo • Feb 14, 2020 at 10:10 am
Genge – Since the year 1991, there has been a decrease in high school fights across the U.S but the first semester of the 2019-2020 school year has had more than half of the total amount of fights from the previous school year. It is alarming to see that the younger students are more prone to fight. what can we do to prevent sophomores from fighting.
jair gutierrez • Feb 14, 2020 at 10:10 am
genge- the NEA suggests that fights are caused by small acts of aggression to violent aggression.
Lexany Lara • Feb 14, 2020 at 10:08 am
“Genge” – I found it crazy that most of the fights were between sophomores and they continue to go on through the grades but they’re lower. I read an article where it said that parents are concerned about the recent fights in school and they believe actions should be made to stop these fights from occurring a mom that attended a board meeting stated that ” Teachers and administrators are there to teach and educate. They’re not there to be bouncers and break up fights,”. Which I agree with, I think its crazy that we come to learn and end up leaving with nothing but videos of fights. I also found interesting that as the years go by the fights lower, for example seniors only had 9 fights , which is good. That shows that as the years go by fighting isn’t going to be something in mind for upcoming Seniors and Juniors.
Jose A. • Feb 14, 2020 at 10:04 am
Genge – Did you know that In 2017, about one in four high school students (24 percent) reported being in a physical fight in the past year, a continued decrease from the 1991 high of 43 percent. I feel that this a good, that school fights are decreasing.
Valery Munoz • Feb 14, 2020 at 10:04 am
Genge- Based on facts, in 2017, about one in four high school students (24 percent) reported being in a physical fight in the past year, a continued decrease from the 1991 high of 43 percent. Also, younger students report higher rates of being in a physical fight than their older peers, with 28 percent of ninth graders reporting being in a fight, compared with 26 percent of tenth graders, 20 percent of eleventh graders, and 18 percent of twelfth graders. It is a tremendous amount of high school students that go through fights.
Briana Serrano • Feb 14, 2020 at 9:23 am
Genge: Studies show that many people are lead to believe that majority of fights on school property are due to either self defense, to gain/maintain a certain level of respect, and personal anger issues within the students. If Morton genuinely wanted to decrease the amount of physical contact the students uphold, then maybe authority should start suggesting certain alternative methods of releasing the need to get physically violent. Security and staff do the best they can with keeping the students here safe.
Karina Perez • Feb 14, 2020 at 9:19 am
Genge- In 2017, 30 percent of males reported physical fighting, compared with 17 percent of females. Fights are something that will happen in high school no matter how hard security and staff try to prevent it. It is very shocking to know that the most fights were because of sophomores, but then again sophomores are the youngest in the building so they can be less mature and less aware of whats right and wrong.
Michelle A Peralta • Feb 14, 2020 at 9:17 am
Genge- There’s always a reason behind the fights but the cause of arguments and fights is a lack of mutual, empathic understanding. Meaning people wil revert to a self-protective mode and become judgmental, not being able to hear the other persons reasoning or accept that they are wrong.
Yasmin Rodriguez • Feb 14, 2020 at 9:13 am
Genge- I was shocked to find out how many fights have happened in our school in just one semester. There has been a drastic decrease since last year although the fights should be more tolerated. Although this number is significantly low to previous years. It shows the school has been able to handle conflicts between students. Research shows that males are at a higher rate of engaging in physical aggression. Females have different types of aggression, one being more verbal.
Antonio Aguilae • Feb 14, 2020 at 9:13 am
Around 1 out of 4 high school students around the country have been involved in a physical fight at least once. More surprisingly imagine having 68 fights in just 1 semester and that’s wild. Just alone last years semester had around 100 fights within just one semester which is merely half of the ones we got this last semester. Mostly it was almost sophomores which is bad look on us because we are mostly creating a bad imagine for ourselves and mostly seen as the most irresponsible and wild bunch of teenagers. My question is why don’t they just walk away if they know fighting in school is just going to cause even deeper problems?
James Weaver • Feb 14, 2020 at 9:12 am
Genge- This article is very short and too the point and gives little facts as too why these fights might happen. They just tell us that approximately 68 fights have occurred. They have no accurate data for the amount of fights this year and last year. It would be nice to give a description about what the new school system was. Or why sophomores fight more than seniors and juniors. Research studies shows why sophomores fight more than every other year though because sophomores brains is still developing and they are moved to a new school so they need to cope with it. But due to lack of coping skills sophomores fight with physically.
Dulce Moreno • Feb 14, 2020 at 9:12 am
Genge: It was really surprising how many fights were taken place in this school just last semester. In 2017 one in four high school students reported in being in a physical fight in the past year. Male students are more likely to report being in a fight than their female peers at 30% and 17%. Non-Hispanic black students reported the highest rates of being in a physical fight, followed by their Hispanic and non-Hispanic white peers, at 33 percent, 26 percent, and 21 percent, respectively.
Francisco Roa • Feb 14, 2020 at 9:01 am
Ms.Genge
Did you know that in 2017, about 18 percent of students in these grades reported having been in a physical fight anywhere 1 to 3 times, 4 percent reported having been in a physical fight anywhere 4 to 11 times, and 2 percent reported having been in a physical fight anywhere 12 or more times
Francisco Roa • Feb 14, 2020 at 9:00 am
In 2017, about 18 percent of students in these grades reported having been in a physical fight anywhere 1 to 3 times, 4 percent reported having been in a physical fight anywhere 4 to 11 times, and 2 percent reported having been in a physical fight anywhere 12 or more times
Yanitzi Llamas • Feb 14, 2020 at 8:59 am
Genge- what type of fights? who where the ones getting into fights more girls or boys? according to childtrends. org states that “Male students are more likely to report being in a physical fight than their female peers, at 30 percent and 17 percent, respectively, in 2017” maybe be a bit specific in your text in order for us to understand what you actually mean.
Moises Avila • Feb 14, 2020 at 7:51 am
Genge – From 9th through 12th grade, the percentage of school fights throughout the years have decreased. Research shows that in 2017, 24 percent of high school students in the United States have been in a physical fight in school. This number is low compared to the percentage in 1991, which was 43 percent. Also, males have higher rates of fighting than female students.
Oscar Boleres • Feb 14, 2020 at 7:37 am
Genge- Do you think that there is a reason for a decrease in fights at school? It is kind of alarming that sophomores were the ones getting into the most fights.
Marcela Alvarez • Feb 14, 2020 at 7:27 am
Genge – What does administration consider a fight? Is there specific criteria that makes a fight, if so, will the students ever know? According to data from the US department of Health and Human Services, 20-30% of Hispanic students report being in a fight on school property. Is the school doing anything to try and reduce the number of fights that go on in the school?
Antonio Acosta • Feb 14, 2020 at 7:27 am
Genge ~ In other articles I can compare how they used their numbers and were able to calculate what age groups they were. In how many days did those 68 fights happened? Were the students involved in the fights mostly girls or guys? I can make some connections as I’ve experienced many fights first hand or if I didn’t see them in person, I’d see them on Snapchat or Facebook.
Jenaro Barajas • Feb 14, 2020 at 7:26 am
Personally I believe that the spike in fights this school season is due to the fact that the sudden introduction of the Sophomore demographic to Morton East High School has made it marginally more difficult on those Sophomores who’d been used to the previous school. However, I can deduce that this has been an ongoing pattern of Sophomores being the prime cause of fights, while becoming increasingly more tame as time goes on.
Anthony Alvarado • Feb 14, 2020 at 7:19 am
Genge – Apparently, school fights have been decreasing since 1991, since in 1991 there was a reported 43% “fight” rate among schools and have since decreased to 24% (one in four high school students.)
Montserrat Vega • Feb 14, 2020 at 7:16 am
”Genge” – i was actually really shocked with how many fights there was in first semester. Thats actually a lot for one semester or in general thats a lot of fights . The article states that there was 68 fights last semester and most of the fights were sophomores which should not happen since we are barely getting here . This really is a disappointment for our school . There is really no errors to the spelling or the way they use the words . Great article , small and quick!
Genge 0 Hour Dave Alvarez • Feb 14, 2020 at 7:11 am
Genge 0 Hour
Did you knew that in 2017 the highest ethnic group that was involved in fights through the country were non-Hispanic African American students. These were followed Hispanics and White peers. At 33, 26 and 21 percents respectively. Because the majority of the student body are Hispanic, this may be a reason why there are alot of fights. It is sad to see this many fights in this school. Especially when this school doesn’t have such a good reputation.