SCHOOL FIGHTS: A WOUND LEFT UNATTENTED FESTERS AND KILLS
By SCOTT WAIDE* Last Sunday, another teenager, a student at Bumayong Secondary school died at Lae’s Angau hospital from severe knife wounds he sustained in another unnecessary clash between students. The foolishness of students who succumb to peer pressure is inexcusable. But the ignorance of parents and education authorities of the root causes behind the ongoing school fights is unforgivable. Three months ago, education authorities along with stakeholders in the Lae community met to discuss possible solutions to the school fights. I attended as an observer of the proceedings. I could not take the jeers and sarcasm displayed by older members in the meeting who downplayed the organizational structures of the school based groups responsible for the violence. I felt the need to stand up in the crowd, uninvited, and vent on the unsuspecting senior members attending the meeting. Why do you joke about student organizational structures that have become