Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Violence Issue Is Addressed At GHS

Since October 1997, 16 students have been killed on school grounds by other students.

There have been three gun-related incidents in Arkansas schools since Jan. 1, 1998, including the massacre at Jonesboro.

Violence is on the rise, with schools in some cases being particularly vulnerable.

Gurdon Superintendent Bobby Smithson attributes the rise in violent acts to several causes. First, he said, there is the violence children see on television and in the movies.

Next comes the accessibility to firearms especially in this part of the country where there are so many hunters. The children, he said, know where the family's weapons are kept and can get their hands on them.

The biggest problem, he said, is discipline. Many children aren't disciplined at home and won't accept it elsewhere. Several students in the Gurdon school system are on Ritalin to calm them down.

However, he said, acts of serious violence can occur anywhere at any time. Gurdon, though, is fortunate none have so far.

Because of this, Smithson said, some school districts have metal detectors students and visitors must walk through. This is a way to screen people and see if they are carrying a weapon.

Still, he said, someone could have a weapon in their vehicle or simply go home and get one, bring it back to campus and use it.

"I don't have the answer," he said on the problem of school violence. "It must come from the home. Children need to be disciplined at home, learn respect for themselves and others and be responsible for their behavior."

At Gurdon Primary School, he said, a program has been developed to help teach the children these values. "We must start early," Smithson said. "Schools need to strive to create an atmosphere where children want to attend and feel good about themselves; learn to be successful.

"If we do the job like we should," he continued, "most children will enjoy coming to school."

There are children in the area, he said, who's home lives are so bad school is the highlight of their days. There are children who are abused in many different ways attending the system.

Abuse takes its toll, Smithson said, and the teachers at Gurdon are aware of the violence problem and disturbed children.

In some instances, teachers counsel children daily to help them deal with their problems. "They know what to look for," he said.

Some of what teachers look for includes changes in behavior, falling grades and irregular attendance.

"We try to get the people here aide," he said. In some cases, children arrive at school as early as 7:15 and 7:30 a.m.

When Gurdon began having a breakfast program, Smithson didn't think it would go over well. However, he was wrong, as students in all three schools began taking advantage of the program.

Between 50 and 80 students are fed breakfast daily at GHS, with more eating the morning meal at the primary and middle schools. "We feel if we don't provide them with something, some would be hungry," he said, "and not get the balanced meals they need."

But, he said, there have been no major problems with violence in the Gurdon schools. There have been fights between students, but no weapons drawn or children shot.

However, GHS is at a disadvantage by being outside the city limits. Smithson said when the decision was made to locate the school where it is, it was believed the annexation issue would pass with no problem.

Still, the Gurdon Police Department will respond to any call made by the school, and work the situation until officers with the Clark County Sheriff's Office arrive.

Additionally, the district has a counselor and case worker on staff who work with troubled children. This program has been expanded to include students from Arkadelphia and Malvern.

Students in the program, he said, will be involved in activities and field trips during the summer, with the district furnishing transportation and a driver.