I Spoke with CBS News in Boston About Progressive Discipline in Schools

Desire to reduce discipline, to reduce the use of consequences like suspension.

And what we're finding very quickly is that that simply does not work.

Justin Bader of the Principal Center believes shifting away from a policy of keeping kids in school could keep the majority of kids safe.

They know if I go to school, I'm going to be safe because if anybody is not safe, they're going to be removed from that situation until they can be safe.

And I think that's what we need to get back to.

So as you can see, I spoke with reporter Christina Rex of CBS News affiliate WBZ in Boston, and she put together a great news segment.

Here's the whole thing.

schools are seeing more and more students fighting and out of control.

This video taken inside of Haverhill High School yesterday.

It's putting kids and it's putting teachers at risk.

Thank you for joining us.

I'm David Wade.

And I'm Lisa Hughes.

The violence is getting attention in three different communities tonight.

WBZ's Christina Rex is live in Haverhill.

Christina, I know you spoke with an expert to get a better understanding why this is happening.

Yeah, Lisa and David, two experts I spoke with actually agree that this problem has gotten worse since kids returned to in-person school after the pandemic.

And here in Haverhill, students tell me fights in school are a nearly daily occurrence.

Snapchat video shows two girls brawling inside Haverhill High School before teachers step in to break it up.

I just heard there was like this huge like rumble.

An email went out to parents Monday after school about the altercation between two groups of students.

Well, there's fights here almost every day, girls and boys.

I don't want my kids to be a part of that.

I've heard a lot of scary things from my kids.

Students say when a fight breaks out, they get a stay-in-place order.

They have everyone just clear the hallways, get in the closest classroom that you are near.

This trend of fights inside school isn't just in Haverhill.

In Framingham last month, two students were arrested for an in-school fight.

And in Brockton, in-school violence had teachers in tears in a public school committee meeting.

Sadly, this year has killed me.

I have this last month been one of those teachers that has called out probably twice a week.

So what's the cause?

School safety experts have a few thoughts.

The level of physical and verbal aggression has definitely increased upon return from the pandemic.

Desire to reduce discipline, to reduce the use of consequences like suspension.

And what we're finding very quickly is that that simply does not work.

Justin Bader of the Principal Center believes shifting away from a policy of keeping kids in school could keep the majority of kids safe.

They know if I go to school, I'm going to be safe because if anybody is not safe, they're going to be removed from that situation until they can be safe.

And I think that's what we need to get back to.

And here in Haverhill, in that email that was sent to parents, the school did say any kids who fight in school will be sent home.

Now, coming up, the one ingredient that could make all these fights even worse, experts say, lives right in our pockets.

I'll explain at 6.

Live in Haverhill, Christina Rex, WBZ News.

All right, Christina, we'll see you in a bit.