PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Two brawls in the last two weeks on campus at Laurel High School have renewed concerns about safety in Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS).
The district said the students in the most recent skirmishes were suspended immediately, but it seems there is a larger issue at the school.
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There are even social media accounts dedicated to posting videos documenting the incidents.
One is simply called the Laurel Fight Page. The fights posted on X are from previous school years.
It shows students throwing haymakers in the boys’ restroom.
PGCPS told 7News they are aware of the page, but stressed they’ve seen fewer school fights this year. They had 28 fights in the 2023-24 year, to just 18 this year.
They said School Resource Officers and Prince George’s County Police have been part of the plan to address in-school violence and keep all students safe.
A former Laurel High School student said it is a rough time of year.
“I do remember around the spring, toward the end of the year, kids get anxious, and a lot of beefs that haven’t been settled yet, it’s time to act on it, every day feels like there’s an altercation popping up,” said Shamou Pusey, who transferred to Seneca Valley High in Montgomery County to finish high school. “The phones have definitely made it worse, it’s getting attention, likes, views, now you can monetize these things, so it doesn’t help the cause at all.”
He also recently taught as a special education teacher in Baltimore City and County schools.
“The videos you are seeing are of the one to five percent who just don’t care,” he said. “Ninety percent are in school, doing what they have to do, you just have a certain group of students saying, ‘ Oh well, I’m not going to abide by these rules.”
The district said it has a zero-tolerance policy for fighting and encourages students to work with teachers and staff to resolve conflicts with other kids.
There is also plenty of security from metal detectors to school resource officers, as well as cameras all over campus.
Beyond the physical security, the school system said it has anti-bullying measures in place, including an online reporting system.
There are also counselors and psychologists in the building every day.
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