FIGHTING IN SCHOOL Considering the Establishment of a Self Defense Justification Policy This is an excerpt from my School Safety presentation. This information is not presented on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco, the SF Police Dept., the SF Sheriff’s Dept., any government agency, school district or school. The ideas being presented are for your information and consideration only. Before implementing any new concepts, consult with your school’s risk management, legal and administrative personnel as well as local emergency services officials AND do more research. The content of this presentation is the intellectual property of the presenter. Use, misuse or failure to use any of the information presented is at your own risk. There are no guarantees in life, and I certainly cannot offer you any. Lt. Gary Kong, SFSD, ret., ALICE Instructor

Assaults Assaults ASSAULT Fighting is sometimes referred to by the police as “mutual combat.” All parties in the fight can walk away, but choose not to. Assaults Assaults FIGHTING

Assaults Assaults ASSAULT Although this may look like fighting that both combatants chose to engage in, there is a possibility that one of the students is only defending himself from an attack. In fairness, the incident warrants an investigation. Note the large number of witnesses looking on. Assaults Assaults FIGHTING

Assaults Assaults SELF DEFENSE The student on his back cannot run. He is smaller than his attacker. He did not provoke or start this. If he puts up his hands to defend himself or strikes back, will he receive the same punishment as his assailant? Is SELF DEFENSE considered “fighting” in your school?

Assaults Assaults SELF DEFENSE In many schools, all parties engaged in a physical altercation are considered “fighting” and subject to discipline. Some schools avoid conducting thorough investigations and making critical decisions by simply charging all parties with fighting and subjecting them all to the same punishment. This process is often codified within a “Zero Tolerance” policy, but is it fair? Should your fighting policy include a justification for self defense?

Assaults Assaults SELF DEFENSE Imagine you were in the hallway at lunchtime using your cell phone and someone much bigger than you comes up and demands you give it to him. You hesitate and get pushed to the ground. It’s attempted robbery by force. You try to defend yourself and the hall monitor sends you both to the office. The principal refers to the Zero Tolerance policy on fighting and you both get suspended. Is this justice? Does the victim of a robbery by force also get punished?

Assaults Assaults SELF DEFENSE This girl was attacked by a bully with a rock. In your school, if she attempted to defend herself would she be suspended for “fighting” off her attacker?

Assaults Assaults SELF DEFENSE In order to be fair and to prevent abuse, strict guidelines must govern a Self Defense justification within a school’s policies against fighting: If attacked, student must attempt to flee or call for help Provoking a fight will not justify self defense Immediately cease fighting or run for help as soon as possible No weapons may be used in self defense, but books / bags can be used only to block blows from the attacker All use of self defense must be reported immediately

Assaults Assaults It’s not like the good old days …